The Government is concerned about the nuisance parallel trading activities cause to people’s daily lives and law enforcement agencies have been implementing a series of countermeasures.
Secretary for Security TK Lai told legislators today that between March last year and February this year, the Customs & Excise Department arrested 5,000 people for exporting unlicensed powdered formula.
The courts jailed 157 people, fined 5,094, and issued suspended sentences to 668.
Police and Immigration officers also arrested 831 people for breaching their conditions of stay. Thirty-nine were jailed and 790 were repatriated.
The Immigration Department identified 13,500 suspected parallel traders and refused 28,500 entries.
The Fire Services Department has carried out inspections for possible fire risks caused by parallel trading, and the Lands Department has checked for land lease breaches.
Police have stepped up enforcement actions against obstructions and nuisance.
The MTR Corporation has designated luggage size and weight limits to stop passengers from carrying oversized or overweight baggage, and will refuse anyone exceeding these restrictions.
Mr Lai said imposing an arrival tax is not feasible as it might adversely affect the tourism, retail and food and beverage sectors, and the Mainland might impose a similar tax on Hong Kong people crossing the boundary.
