Dear Editor,<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Arresting the parallel traders in Sheung Shui MTR station is not enough.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 But in fact, the traders have changed their plans.\u00a0 They pack less bulky items into the backpacks of several dozen paid carriers.\u00a0 Parallel traders start using the residential flats for goods storage and they pack the goods inside the apartment before going to the station.\u00a0 It shows that the traders have learnt a lesson and changed their plans immediately after the police\u2019s operation.\u00a0 Arresting parallel traders does not stop the traders\u2019 action but instead encourages them to find better ways for cover.<\/p>\n
Also, the 32kg limit on passengers\u2019 luggage lacks effectiveness.\u00a0 The traders solve this problem by crossing the border 4-5 times a day.\u00a0 The limitation does not affect their work since they do not bring stuff over the limit.\u00a0 The officers cannot charge them since no rules are broken by them.\u00a0 Clearly the limit does not work as it is hoped.\u00a0 The rule is also not fair to other passengers who need to bring products across the border for right purposes.<\/p>\n
The government should tighten its rules and have regular operations on arresting and checking the parallel traders.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n
To sum up, the government should take action immediately and have effective plans to tackle the problem.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Yours faithfully<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Chris Wong<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Chris Wong\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Carmel Secondary School<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dear Editor<\/p> 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.<\/p>