Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Email this article news.gov.hk
Inter-departmental enforcement actions in combating parallel trading activities
************************************************************

     A Government spokesman said today (February 11) that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is very concerned about the impact of parallel trading activities on people's daily lives, in particular in North District, Yuen Long and Tuen Mun. Relevant departments have been taking resolute enforcement actions to jointly crack down on parallel trading activities with a view to maintaining order at streets and boundary control points.

Management of boundary control points

     In the week between February 2 and 8, the Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Police mounted six joint enforcement operations named "Windsand" in North District (including Sheung Shui and Lok Ma Chau), and arrested 55 Mainland residents who were suspected of contravening conditions of stay by being involved in parallel trading activities. In addition, ImmD has strengthened the interception of persons suspected to be involved in parallel trading activities. If their purposes of visits are in doubt, ImmD will consider refusing their entry and repatriating them immediately. In the past week, ImmD has refused more than 750 entries. The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) has been exchanging intelligence and planning dedicated operations with the Shenzhen authorities. During the same period, the two sides have cracked down on 34 smuggling cases involving parallel traders, seizing goods with a total value of about $300,000. The C&ED has stepped up checking departing travellers and detected 151 cases of attempting to export unlicensed powdered formula, involving 1 479 kilograms of powdered formula.

Non-compliance at industrial buildings

     The Fire Services Department (FSD) has stepped up inspection of buildings which are involved in parallel trading activities in Sheung Shui, Fanling and Tuen Mun. In the past week, the FSD has carried out more than 440 inspections in the aforementioned districts, issued nine fire hazard abatement notices and initiated prosecution against three cases.

     To enhance targeted enforcement actions against lease breach cases involving parallel trading activities, District Land Offices in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and North District under the Lands Department (LandsD) have set up special operation teams. The teams have conducted large-scale inspections of more than 2 000 units in the three districts within the past week, and have issued 37 warning letters to unit owners who are suspected to have breached lease conditions. If breaches are not rectified before the deadline, LandsD will take further enforcement action, and proceed with re-entry of the relevant units.

Black spots for parallel trading and street management

     In the past week, the Police and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) have jointly stepped up enforcement actions against issues including obstruction and nuisance in public places caused by parallel traders and stores, and have issued a total of 20 summonses under the Summary Offences Ordinance (Cap 228). The FEHD has also issued more than 150 Fixed Penalty Notices to offenders who littered and caused environmental hygiene problems. The relevant departments will continue to take strict enforcement action at black spots of parallel trading activities to minimise the nuisance caused to residents in public places.

Transport

     The Police have stepped up enforcement actions against road obstructions caused by illegal parking and loading or unloading of goods in connection with parallel trading. In the past week, more than 615 fixed penalty tickets were issued under the Fixed Penalty (Traffic Contraventions) Ordinance (Cap 237) and the Fixed Penalty (Criminal Proceedings) Ordinance (Cap 240).

     To prepare for the peak travelling season during the Lunar New Year, relevant departments will continue to take enforcement actions and will closely monitor the situation.

Ends/Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:02

NNNN

Print this page