Deng Bingqiang: Studying legal responsibilities related to the purchase of illegal fuel

Secretary for Security, Chairman Tang Ping-keung said that, given that risks posed by illegal fuel diversion activities to public safety are becoming increasingly serious, the Government is actively reviewing the relevant fire services legislation with a view to comprehensively strengthening the regulatory regime. This includes studying ways to increase penalties for relevant offences, expanding the Fire Services Department’s enforcement powers in areas such as arresting suspects and taking possession of vehicles involved, and studying legal liability issues relating to the purchase of illegal fuel, in a bid to combat illegal fuel diversion activities more effectively.

Tang Ping-keung, in a written response to a question by a Legislative Council member, said that up to February this year, the Fire Services Department and the Customs and Excise Department have jointly brought a total of 76 prosecutions over illegal fuel diversion, among which 14 people were convicted. The fine amounts ranged from $2,000 to $15,000, with imprisonment terms of 7 days to 6 months. He pointed out that the Fire Services Department will strengthen its investigation and enforcement work in four areas. In addition to adopting an intelligence-led enforcement strategy, it will also actively introduce innovative technology equipment. The Fire Services Department has already introduced drones for routine patrols. Since the deployment of such drones in October last year up to now, 76 missions have been carried out, successfully assisting in solving six cases and laying 20 prosecutions.

In addition, the Fire Services Department launched an electronic reporting platform and a 24-hour reporting hotline in October last year. Up to February this year, it has received a total of 134 pieces of intelligence from the public, helping identify 18 newly added black spots. The Fire Services Department also established a task group in October last year, covering multiple government departments and oil-related industries, and believes this will help identify, more efficiently, black spots of illegal fuel stations with higher risks across Hong Kong.

Tang Ping-keung also said that the Customs and Excise Department has all along been closely monitoring smuggling of fuel activities at various immigration control stations, including enhancing detection capabilities by using advanced inspection equipment, such as gantry-based vehicle X-ray inspection systems, mobile X-ray vehicle inspection systems, and intelligent vehicle underbody robotic systems, to combat smuggling of illegal fuel. The Customs and Excise Department also maintains close contact and intelligence exchanges with law enforcement authorities in the Mainland.