Dear Editor,
I am writing to express my opinions on the current measures taken by the police and immigration officials towards parallel traders. Parallel traders take products ranging from milk powder, mobile phones, to cosmetics over the border to sell in the Mainland in order to evade taxes.
Arresting the parallel traders in Sheung Shui MTR station is not enough. After the police have arrested parallel traders who are packing bulky stuff into their trolleys, there seems to be less parallel traders clogging public areas around the station. But in fact, the traders have changed their plans. They pack less bulky items into the backpacks of several dozen paid carriers. Parallel traders start using the residential flats for goods storage and they pack the goods inside the apartment before going to the station. It shows that the traders have learnt a lesson and changed their plans immediately after the police’s operation. Arresting parallel traders does not stop the traders’ action but instead encourages them to find better ways for cover.
Also, the 32kg limit on passengers’ luggage lacks effectiveness. The traders solve this problem by crossing the border 4-5 times a day. The limitation does not affect their work since they do not bring stuff over the limit. The officers cannot charge them since no rules are broken by them. Clearly the limit does not work as it is hoped. The rule is also not fair to other passengers who need to bring products across the border for right purposes.
The government should tighten its rules and have regular operations on arresting and checking the parallel traders. It should draw up policies to curb an influx by tightening immigration laws since the increasing number of cross border Mainlanders is the source of the parallel trading problem. And also, the government can charge the traders with obstructing public places or restrict them from carrying bulky items on the MTR in order to prevent them occupying public areas again.
To sum up, the government should take action immediately and have effective plans to tackle the problem.
Yours faithfully
Chris Wong
Chris Wong
Carmel Secondary School