Woman held at Hong Kong border for 'breaking milk limit' - with rice cereal
The woman, from eastern China's Jiangsu province, said she did not know powdered rice milk cereal was included in the rule and said she asked customs officials at Lok Ma Chau more than once.
A mainland woman said she was detained at the border last week for breaking Hong Kong's two-tin limit on milk powder exports because she thought rice-based milk cereal for infants was not affected by the new restrictions.
The regulations, which came into effect on March 1, limit unlicensed exports of powdered infant formula to two cans or 1.8kg and are meant to address local fears of a milk powder shortage as mainland traders buy up supplies in Hong Kong to sell across the border. Milk powder is generally less expensive and seen to be safer in Hong Kong.
The woman, Huang Xuejiao, said she did not know powdered rice milk cereal was included in the rule and said she asked customs officials at Lok Ma Chau more than once.
Rice milk, a type of grain milk processed from rice, is an alternative to milk to infants who are lactose intolerant or allergic to cow’s milk and soy.
Huang, from eastern China's Jiangsu province, was caught with two tins of baby formula weighing 1.8kg and four cans of Friso-brand rice-based milk cereal weighing 1.2kg in her luggage.