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A Government spokesman said today (February 1) that in order to prepare for the peak travelling season during the Lunar New Year, the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED), the Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Hong Kong Police Force conducted joint operations against parallel trading activities in North District (including Sheung Shui and Lok Ma Chau) in the past three days (January 29 to 31).
To crack down on the supply chain of parallel goods, the law enforcement agencies have strengthened intelligence exchange. After collecting and analysing information on the parallel trading network, the C&ED pinpointed suspected parallel goods storage and packing establishments, and passed intelligence to the ImmD and the Police to conduct enforcement actions. In the past three days, C&ED detected 49 cases of attempting to export unlicensed powdered formula, involving around 487 kilogrammes of powdered formula and 49 arrests. Further, C&ED and the Shenzhen authorities conducted dedicated operations against parallel trading at major boundary control points during the same period. The two sides cracked down on 28 cases, seizing goods with a total value of about $610,000, which were mainly electronic equipment.
During the same period, the ImmD and the Police arrested 11 Mainland residents who were suspected of contravening conditions of stay by being involved in parallel trading activities. In addition, ImmD strengthened the interception of Mainland visitors 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 January 2016 alone, ImmD already refused over 1 600 entries due to suspected involvement in parallel trading activities.
In the past three days, the Police arrested six Hong Kong residents (three male, three female) suspected of "entering a closed area without permit", seizing goods with a total value of around $260,000. Targeting issues including obstruction and nuisance in public places caused by parallel traders and stores, the Police conducted six joint operations with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, and issued 82 warnings against obstruction and violation of smoking ban. 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.
The Police also 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 three days, over 250 fixed penalty tickets were issued. Targeting illegal conduct involving taxis, since October 2014, the Police have taken prosecution actions against 41 drivers for carriage of goods on a taxi, two drivers for refusing to accept a hire and 19 drivers for soliciting.
Various government departments will continue to take strict actions to combat unlawful actions related to parallel trading. Local residents are reminded not to risk breaking the law by taking parallel trading items across the boundary, which may violate laws in the Mainland.
Ends/Monday, February 1, 2016
Issued at HKT 20:29
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