Policing parallel trading activities and the associated public disorder in North District

Abstract

Different from the economic approach predominantly adopted in many foreign studies in relation to grey market economy, this research aims at studying the rampant parallel trading activities in the North District of Hong Kong as well as the associated public disorder from criminological perspective. By applying relevant criminological theories, it serves to offer understanding and explanation of the operation of such quasi-criminal activities. Although the illegality of such activities is generally undefined in the existing laws of Hong Kong, its unique social and criminological nature, which has been rarely studied, would be subject to in-depth exploration in this research. Site observation was conducted with a view to obtaining first-hand information on the ground-level operation and social disturbance at selected timings. In-depth interviews with various stakeholders involved in the parallel trading were also conducted to seek better understanding of the couriers’ background motive and concerns, at the same time to examine the corresponding policing strategies and practices adopted by different law enforcement agencies (LEAs) such as Police, Customs and Immigration. Not only the drives and process of this kind of grey market operation will be analyzed, the unprecedented and serious social, political and public order impacts associated with the parallel trading in the North District will be investigated as well via the media content analysis, since the issues have been periodically gaining the attention of the general public. The up-to-date development, policy and some proposed implementations by the Hong Kong Government will be touched on so as to establish a more holistic overview of the parallel trading issue as a whole.