131 held in swoop on parallel-goods trade in Sheung Shui

Law enforcement agencies staged a high-profile arrest of more than 100 mainlanders in North District yesterday against a background of snowballing discontent among residents there over parallel-goods traders.

All but one of the 131 arrested, who were aged 22 to 60, were packaging goods for export; the only goods carrier detained had 11 boxes of geoduck clams worth more than HK$10,000, officers said.

The police and Immigration Department conducted the operation near the border a day after the government promised to crack down on what residents see as an increasing nuisance.

Principal immigration officer Wong Yin-sang said 130 workers were arrested in the Advanced Technology Centre, a 10-minute walk from Sheung Shui station, packing goods ranging from red wine to baby milk formula.

"Instead of carrying out a large-scale stop-and-search operation at a crowded place like the Sheung Shui railway station, we opted to crack down on the source," Wong said.

He said 50 of those arrested held multi-entry permits, meaning they were probably Shenzhen permanent residents who were allowed unlimited travel to Hong Kong.