Vehicles with modified fuel tanks used to bring cheap mainland fuel into HK: Customs chief

Hong Kong Customs will step up enforcement against the illegal transfer of fuel brought into the city by cross-border vehicles, Commissioner of Customs and Excise Chan Tsz-tat said, noting that the activity has been driven by a widening price gap between gasoline in Hong Kong and mainland China.

Speaking to reporters while attending the Asia-Pacific Smart Customs Conference, Chan said authorities have recently observed cases in which cross-border vehicles bring large quantities of gasoline into Hong Kong from the mainland and transfer the fuel illegally within the city.

Chan said some vehicles are suspected of carrying modified or enlarged fuel tanks to transport larger volumes of cheaper mainland fuel across the boundary before siphoning it into unauthorized filling stations in Hong Kong.

He stressed that customs officers would intensify enforcement against the illegal handling of untaxed gasoline.

Chan warned that illegal fuel transfer not only involves tax evasion but also poses serious safety risks. Improper handling and storage of gasoline could create fire hazards, potentially endangering both the vehicles involved and nearby residential areas.

In cases involving illegal fuel, customs authorities may seize the vehicles involved and apply to the court for forfeiture, Chan said.

He added that the department relies on a strong intelligence system to detect suspicious activity, with frontline officers conducting targeted inspections at control points. Many cases involving the smuggling of gasoline into Hong Kong have been uncovered by customs officers on the spot.

For illegal fuel transfer activities within urban areas, Customs and the Fire Services Department have also conducted joint enforcement operations from time to time.

Chan urged the public not to risk breaking the law for small financial gains. “The losses that follow are not worth it,” he said.