Mainland China security officials say they detained Hongkonger who went missing crossing Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge on suspicion of smuggling
- Chung, 53, accused by police of being an ‘important gang member’ in operation taking mobile phones over borders
- Security on world’s longest sea crossing has been tightened ahead of President Xi Jinping’s visit to Macau
A Hongkonger who has been missing since Friday was detained on suspicion of smuggling offences while travelling on the mega bridge to Macau, authorities from mainland China said on Monday.
Security officials from Guangdong said a man named Chung, 53, was held on Friday afternoon by Zhuhai police and customs, who accused him of being involved in the smuggling of mobile phones in August 2012.
Sources said the man, called Chan in previous reports, was Chung Sun-ming. His family contacted Hong Kong police on Saturday and said he had gone missing after leaving for Macau.
He was wanted by customs in the mainland border city of Shenzhen, according to the Guangdong provincial public security department.
Hongkonger reportedly disappears during security check on bridge to Macau
“Chung is an important member of the gang, and Zhuhai border control has already transferred him to the relevant authority,” the department said in a post on Weibo, a microblogging site popular on the mainland.
Zhuhai public security bureau revealed temporary new security arrangements earlier this month covering the period December 10 to 22. They involved establishing a new mainland checkpoint on an artificial island linked to the bridge to “create a good social environment” for the celebrations.
The temporary checkpoint on the Eastern Artificial Island, which falls in mainland waters, introduces inspections of vehicles which previously travelled freely along the bridge from Hong Kong to Macau.
Hong Kong’s Security Bureau said it would not intervene with the mainland’s actions under an intergovernmental agreement.
“The authority has the power, under mainland laws, to carry out law enforcement actions on the island, including setting up a security checkpoint when it is considered necessary,” the bureau said. “The Hong Kong SAR government will not and should not interfere with the mainland government's exercise of enforcement power within its jurisdiction.”
The bureau and Transport Department did not explain why they had not relayed the announcement about the new checkpoint.
Hong Kong police said they were told about the detention by mainland authorities through a reciprocal notification mechanism on Monday afternoon.
Democratic Party lawmaker James To Kun-sun said the new mainland barrier had damaged business confidence for those moving between Hong Kong and Macau who did not wish to enter the mainland.
“There is no question the Eastern Artificial Island is in mainland territory, but the bridge was always meant to provide a special passage from Hong Kong to Macau. There is no reason to stop people halfway through,” To said.
He said if Macau authorities were worried about the threat to the president they could simply refuse entry to the city, instead of allowing mainland officials to intercept travellers.
Zhuhai police said several wanted persons, other than Chung, had been arrested when travelling from Hong Kong to Macau or Zhuhai since December 10.
On Monday, a Post reporter took a trip over the bridge by cross-border bus, which had to go through the new checkpoint. All passengers were asked to get off the vehicle with their luggage to have photos taken. X-ray machines and manual scanning were used to check belongings.
Passengers were then asked to go to a room with counters to have their documents reviewed by a system that can read Hongkongers' ID cards and home-return permits as well as mainlanders' travel permits.
The checks, which took about 10 minutes, were not needed for trips from Macau to Hong Kong.
Around 30 officers, wearing uniforms of “special police”, patrolled near the checkpoint building. Some were armed.
Some patrolled with police dogs while armoured vehicles were seen nearby. A radio-jamming vehicle was also on-site.
Additional reporting by Elizabeth Cheung
