Six-point plan to curb couriers with cross-boundary support: Govt

Shenzhen visitors caught carrying large quantity of consumer goods in Hong Kong could be prosecuted and banned from re-entry, as the Hong Kong government seeks to defuse the high tension among residents in the northern border towns of Sheung Shui and Fanling.

Dozens of Sheung Shui residents, said to be frustrated by the overwhelming nuisance caused by cross-boundary courier activities which have caused prices to soar, rallied outside the Sheung Shui MTR station for two consecutive days over the past weekend to confront the couriers, resulting in minor clashes.

The uproar was followed by an unofficial visit of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying on Sunday, as the city's chief took a closer look on how lives of local residents were adversely impacted by couriers' activities in Sheung Shui and Fanling.

"Courier activities in the Northern District has deeply affected the normal life and order of the people. I have attached great importance to that," Leung said to the press on Tuesday morning, adding that a request had been made to the central government to "assist" Shenzhen on more effective law enforcement.

Details came in fast on the administration's action plan. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, chief secretary for the administration, revealed a six-point plan that was drawn up at an inter-departmental meeting that took place earlier on Tuesday.

"We feel it is necessary to enforce the law in a manner that is more comprehensive and stringent to curb courier activity," Lam said to the press.

Couriers from the mainland were warned that immigration officers will begin to check identification documents of people who appeared to be carrying, handling or packing goods at the hot spots of courier activities, such as outside the Sheung Shui station.

"If we find out that a person holds a two-way permit with a specified purpose of leisure travel, his engagement in commercial work would be a breach of the condition of stay. The Immigration Department would (then) carry out prosecution," Lam said.

A visitor found guilty by a court will risk losing his travel permit, as the Immigration Department will request the Shenzhen authority to terminate the offender's multiple-entry permit.

And even if a prosecution attempt fails, a record will still be archived with the visitor and immigration officers at the border control points so that the visitor may be refused re-entry provided that there was "reasonable doubt" cast on his actual purpose of entry.

While it was a duty for the mainland's Customs officers to prosecute tax evaders, plain-cloth officers of the Customs of Hong Kong will gather information in the city, like what goods are being couriered to the mainland, for law enforcement agencies across the border to take further action.

To ensure the crowd and masses outside the Sheung Shui station behaved in an orderly fashion, the police will step up its enforcement effort against obstruction of public places and undermining of public safety. The Food, Environment and Hygiene Department will strengthen its cleaning efforts in the area as well.

As earlier press reports suggested that the couriers and coordinators have moved into industrial units for storage and distribution, the Lands Department and Fire Service Department will also be on the lookout for such cases of breach of land deed conditions and fire safety regulations at these couriers' hubs.

kahon@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 09/19/2012 page1)