Raids on parallel traders don't placate Sheung Shui residents
377 visitors have been detained in five weeks, but another protest has been called for today
Suspected parallel traders were out in force at the Sheung Shui MTR station yesterday despite police and immigration officials carrying out their 13th raid in five weeks against the cross-border trade.
Police said 63 mainlanders, aged 15 to 68, were arrested on suspicion of breaching their conditions of stay, in a joint operation carried out at the Advance Technology Centre, which provides warehousing services.
The arrests were carried out ahead of a protest expected to be held today by Sheung Shui residents angered by the parallel trading conducted in their border town.
While the arrests were being carried out, almost 100 people could be seen queuing outside the town's MTR station - just 10 minutes' walk away - waiting for MTR employees to weigh and measure their baggage. The MTR Corporation recently imposed a 32kg weight limit on baggage.
Most of the 377 arrested in the raids thus far have appeared resigned when appearing in front of media cameras. But yesterday one defiant man shouted out as he was escorted to a police van: "I'll beat up any Hongkonger I see in Shenzhen in future."
He was booed by onlookers.