Anti-parallel trading protests

Anti-parallel trading protests (Chinese: 反水貨客示威) refer to the protests happened in Hong Kong from 2012, which aimed at striking the mainland parallel traders to import goods from Hong Kong to Mainland China. The parallel trading caused the household goods shortage, increasing inflation rate and exacerbate the Hong Kong-Mainland conflict. There are also conflicts between the local shop owners and citizens as the parallel trading boosts the sales but raises the local prices of daily necessities.

In 2012, 95% of traveller who travelled between Shenzhen and Hong Kong many times were mainland parallel traders. Mainland consumers are able to earn profits through smuggling because of the advantage of favourable exchange rate, the absence of taxes and tariff in Hong Kong, and lax customs on the mainland side. As multiple entry visa policy permits visa holders to cross the Hong Kong-mainland border many times in one day, thus the mainland parallel traders can export goods from Hong Kong to Mainland China frequently. Since the parallel traders buy a large amount of goods in Hong Kong, the local prices in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Tai Po and Shatin, which are districts close to the Hong Kong-mainland border, are boosted. Therefore, the first anti-parallel trading protest was started at Sheung Shui in September 2012.

Sheung Shui anti-parallel trading protest was starting from 15 September 2012. This rally was initiated on Facebook. Around 50 of protesters, angry to the influx of mainland parallel traders, gathered outside Sheung Shui Station where a parallel goods distribution centre frequently operated. This action prompted confrontations between the protesters and parallel traders. The number of protesters then rose up to over 100 people. Police and PTU intervened and the protest ended in chaos. Similar protests took place frequently in the days and months that followed, until 2015. People also called this series of protests "Reclaim Sheung Shui" (Chinese:光復上水).

...
Wikipedia