Hong Kong customs has launched talks with major cross-border e-commerce firms, including Pinduoduo and Taobao, in a bid to block contraband from being sold to buyers in the city, the head of the disciplined service has revealed.
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Commissioner of Customs and Excise Chan Tsz-tat told the Post in an exclusive interview that his agency had a robust communication mechanism with e-commerce platforms and had asked Pinduoduo to take down relevant products after a teenage boy was found to have bought smoke grenades online last month.
“We hope to discuss how they can help block Hong Kong-banned contraband from being shipped to the city,” Chan said, adding that the goal was to reach an agreement with major e-commerce platforms.
A 13-year-old boy was arrested on July 18 on suspicion of possessing explosives after he allegedly set off three smoke grenades and left them in the corridor outside his home, prompting the evacuation of about 300 residents from the building.
Sources said the boy had bought the three suspected smoke grenades for HK$92 (US$12) on mainland e-commerce platform Pinduoduo and collected them at a pickup point in the city.
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Chan said smoke grenades were considered illegal contraband in Hong Kong and warned consumers that ignorance of this fact would not absolve them of legal responsibilities, adding that any unlicensed imports would be treated as smuggling and dealt with accordingly by the department.