Milk powder beats out heroin in smuggling arrests - huh?
Bloomberg takes an odd angle on milk-powder smuggling in Hong Kong.
But isn’t that comparing apples with oranges? Clamping down on an illegal addictive substance requires a different operation than enforcing limits on a food staple such as baby formula.
In the story, the second paragraph says more people have been arrested for taking across more than two cans of baby formula across the border than those held for carrying heroin. It then goes into food safety issues on the mainland and how they have created a chain effect around the world. The article doesn’t get to the drug specifics until the end, but the connection is tenuous.
As of April 23, 879 people were arrested, with 8,841 kilograms of powdered milk seized, Calvin Lee, a press officer, said in an e-mail. Last year, 420 people were arrested by border officials for having restricted drugs. Of those, 81 had heroin, 81 carried cocaine and 161 had ketamine.
The milk-powder restrictions went into effect on March 1, and since then, customs officials have been expected to watch for violations of the rule much more closely. Drug smugglers have had years of practise eluding authorities.
The story with the catchy headline has been picked up by Western media organisations, including Quartz, the San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post, Edmonton Journal in Canada, among others.
A columnist for the New Zealand Herald leads with the drug link but goes on to say that restrictions on milk formula may cause “a risk of a 19th century gold rush mentality ... unregulated, wild west stuff”.
Efforts by local exporters to form an industry association to keep control of the New Zealand brand are admirable but have not been fully inclusive and have caused conflict within the fast-growing sector.
It looks as though it might be time for the Government to take a serious look at how New Zealand's reputation is being managed.
Certainly, the heroin connection is attention-grabbing, but its apparent attempt to cast Hong Kong customs' priorities as misaligned may be a stretch.
Refugees on the march
Al Jazeera reports on the protest on Saturday by asylum seekers struggling for rights in Hong Kong. The Post and the Hong Wrong blog also reported on the march.
Other coverage, April 22-27
- Hong Kong retains allure as retail mecca The New York Times sees the opening of Uniqlo’s flagship store in Causeway Bay as a sign of the city retaining a vital role in the Chinese market.
- Hong Kong attracting creative entrepreneurs A Manchester newspaper profiles a new trade group with Hong Kong links.
- Millionaires clash over socialite's child support claims The New York Times' DealBook reports on the Anabelle Bond story of the HK$4 million court order for child support. The story was also reported in the South China Morning Post.
- Vancouver Academy of Music helping to launch new school in Hong Kong A Vancouver news portal reports on a transformation for the historic Haw Par Mansion.
- How puppy smugglers feed Hong Kong’s love affair with big dogs The current vogue for Tibetan mastiffs in mainland China has reached Hong Kong, the CNN reports.
- In Hong Kong, a place to breath Residents (ie, expats and wealthy buyers) are escaping to Sai Kung, the Wall Street Journal reports.
- Striking Hong Kong port workers cut wage demands as talks stall Dock workers willing to back down on their wage demands, Bloomberg reports.
- In Hong Kong, freedom at universities Freedom of expression - to discuss Tiananmen and other taboo topics for the central government - is alive and well on campuses, the New York Times reports.
- Hong Kong says more sunshine led to smoggy days this year Sunshine is conducive to photochemical smog formation, Bloomberg Businessweek reports.
- Hong Kong citizen media site faces DDoS attack from China Inmedia thinks it was targeted because of recent coverage of the dock workers’ strike and a military pier project.
- Sichuan relief efforts provoke Hong Kong sceptics Corruption among mainland officials is the biggest concern, the Wall Street Journal reports.
- Female HSBC banker ditches BlackBerry for sled Bloomberg talks to several women from Hong Kong who take part in ultra-marathons, reporting on a trend seen in the endurance races.
Arts and culture
- Michael Bay Wants to Bring TRANSFORMERS 4 to the Streets of Hong Kong
- Feasting in Hong Kong The Western Australia
- Hong Kong tops best street food cities list Cheapflights.com
- In a world of flavour Brisbane Times reviews a few Hong Kong restaurants.
In photos
- Photos by French photographer Romain Jacquet-Lagreze give a different perspective on the city.