Immigration officers would set a “blacklist” to ban parallel-goods traders re-entering Hong Kong, security officials vowed on Saturday.
Speaking after a police passing-out parade, Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok said the government had been in close contact with mainland authorities to crack down on parallel-good trading, which has been annoying residents in Sheung Shui and neighbouring communities.
He said the government would establish a partnership with Guangdong’s anti-smuggling office to strengthen co-operation, and have “clearly-targeted” strategies for travellers suspected of being parallel-good traders.
“If we discover some [mainland] travellers are coming to Hong Kong frequently, especially within the same day, immigration officers will do special checks [on them],” Lai said.
Travellers will be banned from entering Hong Kong if they were found to be suspicious, or were unable to explain their frequent travel, Lai explained.
Director of Immigration Eric Chan Kwok-ki said about 500 parallel-good traders had been arrested, in various operations by immigration and police officers in recent months. Ninety were prosecuted.