I refer to the letter headlined, 'Touts given free hand' (South China Morning Post, January 16).
Years ago, the demand for through-train tickets was extremely high due to the limited number of trains operating each day and the limited number of ticket sales offices.
As a result, touts were active in selling tickets illegally for a higher price.
With the introduction of a diversified sales network and the provision of additional trains, these touting activities have decreased significantly.
We cannot, however, afford to be complacent about the situation.
We hold meetings with the police regularly to monitor the situation. We also carry out joint operations from time to time to identify and prosecute the touts. During the past few months, we have successfully raised an average of four prosecutions per month. If a transaction is witnessed, the suspect is detained and passed to the police for further action. The maximum penalty for touting is a fine of $5,000 and imprisonment of six months.