HONG KONG : Hong Kong on Friday moved to stop people crossing into mainland China
with large quantities of baby formula, due to fears of shortages in the city
before the Lunar New Year.
Formula is popular with mainlanders because
of concerns about the safety of food processed in China following a series of
scandals, notably in 2008 when six babies died from drinking milk tainted with
the chemical melamine.
The new measures would stop people from
taking more than 1.8 kilogrammes (four pounds) of formula across the border, in
a bid to crack down on the so-called "parallel traders" who sell the
milk powder at a profit in China.
"To combat the movements of the parallel
traders, the government will amend the import and export general regulations,"
Health Minister Ko Wing-man told a news conference.
Ko said he would seek cabinet's approval for
the amendment this month.
Other measures include tighter border
restrictions for mainland Chinese visitors who enter the city more than once in
a day and strict luggage weight restrictions on trains.
Hong Kong media this week broadcast images of
mainland visitors stuffing tins of milk powder into large bags and boxes near
train stations at the border - most of them thought to be traders who dodge
import tariffs on their return.
Although the former British colony was
returned to Chinese rule in 1997, it maintains a semi-autonomous status with
its own laws and immigration controls.
Friday's announcement came after supporters
of tougher restrictions on milk powder exports appealed to US President Barack
Obama in an online petition labelled "Baby Hunger Outbreak in Hong Kong,
International Aid Requested".
The appeal on the "We the People"
section of the White House website drew more than 13,300 signatures.
"We request for international support
and assistance as babies in Hong Kong will face malnutrition very soon,"
it said.
- AFP/ms
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