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A Government spokesman said today (May 4) 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 took joint enforcement actions to crack down on parallel trading activities between April 22 and May 2 (the operations) with a view to maintaining order at streets and boundary control points.
Management of boundary control points
During the operations, 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 29 Mainland residents who were suspected of contravening conditions of stay by being involved in parallel trading activities. In addition, the ImmD has strengthened the interception of persons suspected to be involved in parallel trading activities. If their purposes of visits are in doubt, the ImmD will consider refusing their entry and repatriating them immediately. During the operations, the ImmD has refused 395 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 cracked down on 38 smuggling cases involving parallel traders, seizing goods with a total value of about $380,000. The C&ED has stepped up checking departing travellers and detected 141 cases of attempting to export unlicensed powdered formula, involving 815 kilogrammes of powdered formula.
The Police stationed officers at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line (LMCSL) Control Point and its neighbouring areas to implement crowd management and special traffic arrangements. During the operations, the Police arrested four persons for entering and remaining at the LMCSL Control Point without possessing a valid Closed Area Permit.
Non-compliance at industrial buildings and agricultural lots
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 conducted large scale inspections of over 2 400 units in the three districts and 22 agricultural lots during the operations. Where lease breaches are identified, the LandsD will issue warnings.
Black spots for parallel trading and street management
During the operations, the Police and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) jointly stepped up enforcement actions against issues including obstruction and nuisance in public places caused by parallel traders and stores, and issued a total of 27 summonses under the Summary Offences Ordinance (Cap 228). The FEHD also issued over 200 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. During the operations, 465 fixed penalty tickets were issued under the Fixed Penalty (Criminal Proceedings) Ordinance (Cap 237) and the Fixed Penalty (Traffic Contraventions) Ordinance (Cap 240).
Relevant departments will continue to take enforcement actions against parallel trading activities and will closely monitor the situation.
Ends/Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Issued at HKT 11:03
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