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     A public procession was held in Sheung Shui yesterday (July 13). It started from the basketball court outside North District Sports Ground at 3.30pm and ended at about 5pm as announced by the organiser.   

     After that, a large number of people assembled unlawfully along Lung Sum Avenue, Lung Wan Street and San Wan Road.  Police found that in a short period of time, a large number of equipment like helmets and goggles were distributed premeditatedly. Some protestors collected a lot of iron poles and other offensive weapons, demolished the railings nearby, and blocked the roads by water barriers, railings and some miscellaneous objects.

     Meanwhile, some protestors argued with other people at scene and attempted to charge and besiege Police officers when the officers intervened. A large number of violent protestors deliberately charged Police cordon lines and attacked Police officers with different weapons and objects including iron poles and suspected irritating powder and liquid, causing injuries to the limbs and faces of a number of Police officers. Ten officers were discharged from hospital after receiving treatment.

     After repeated but futile warnings, Police took actions to disperse the protestors at around 8pm.  The dispersal action was concluded at 10.30pm yesterday and all the blocked roads were reopened.  During the operation yesterday, Police arrested two men for unlawful assembly and non-payment of fine.

     One of the arrestees was suspected of obstructing the advance of Police cordon line. When Police tried to approach the man for enquiry, he suddenly escaped.  When arrived at a footbridge connecting Landmark North, he strode over the railings and attempted to jump off the footbridge.  Police officers immediately held the man and rescued him.  After initial investigation, he was arrested for unlawful assembly.

     During the operation yesterday, Police found that certain Legislative Council (LegCo) members and other people stood before the Police cordon lines, blocking officers in moving forward. This not only obstructed Police in performing their duties but also caused danger to the personal safety of LegCo members themselves as well as Police officers, reporters and protestors.  Members of the public should not obstruct Police’s operations by any means or they might be liable to the offence of obstructing Police officers.

     Police strongly condemn the deliberate attacks by violent protestors and stress that Police will investigate and resolutely pursue all illegal and violent acts.

     In response to media enquiries regarding a man attempted to jump off a footbridge during Police’s dispersal action near MTR Sheung Shui Station tonight (July 13), a Police spokesperson replied as follows:

     During Police’s dispersal action near MTR Sheung Shui Station, a man was suspected of obstructing the advance of Police cordon line. When Police tried to approach the man for enquiry, the man suddenly escaped.  When arrived at a footbridge connecting Landmark North, he strode over the railings and attempted to jump off the footbridge.  Police officers immediately held the man and rescued him.  After initial investigation, the man was arrested for unlawful assembly.
     

     In response to the public procession in Sheung Shui today (July 13), a Government spokesperson said that the majority of the protesters behaved in a peaceful and orderly manner, but regrettably some protesters deliberately blocked the roads after the procession, hurled iron poles, scattered an unknown powder, charged police cordon lines and assaulted police officers. The Government strongly condemns the violent acts committed.
      
     The spokesperson said the Government always respects the public's right to express their views and demands in a peaceful, rational and orderly manner, and that this reflects the precious freedom of expression in Hong Kong and lawful quality of the Hong Kong people. But a minority of protesters used violence to charge and cause damage. It is believed the majority of Hong Kong people would also disapprove such unlawful acts.
      
     The Government has also been concerned about the nuisance caused by parallel trading activities to the daily lives of local residents. The relevant law enforcement agencies and organisations have implemented a series of measures to improve the orderly operation at railway stations and boundary control points, as well as to mitigate the nuisance caused to the daily lives of local residents and any impact on environmental hygiene. The Government has also adjusted enforcement strategies in response to the mode of operation of parallel traders.
      
     The Immigration Department (ImmD) established a "watch list of suspected parallel traders" in September 2012 to assist frontline officers in identifying suspected parallel traders for examination among the large number of passengers. If the purpose of visiting Hong Kong is in doubt, the ImmD will refuse the entry of such visitors and repatriate them immediately. As at the end of June 2019, the ImmD has placed information regarding over 25 300 persons who were suspected to be carrying out parallel trading activities on the watch list. In the past 18 months, the ImmD has refused entry to about 5 000 Mainland visitors due to suspected involvement in parallel trading activities.
      
     The ImmD and the Police also conduct joint law enforcement operations from time to time, and arrest any visitors suspected of contravening conditions of stay by being involved in parallel trading activities. In the past 18 months, the ImmD and the Police have conducted about 140 joint operations against visitors contravening conditions of stay by being involved in parallel trading activities. During those operations, a total of 126 Mainland visitors were arrested for suspected contravention of their conditions of stay by being involved in parallel trading activities, and one local employer was arrested for suspected employment of illegal workers.
      
     The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) and Shenzhen authorities have always maintained close contacts. In addition to conducting regular joint operations, the C&ED and Shenzhen Customs also mount dedicated operations to combat parallel trading activities as necessary, with a view to stepping up efforts in enforcement against parallel trading activities. Between January 2018 and May 2019, Shenzhen Customs reported that they had detected a total of about 9 000 smuggling cases by parallel traders at the boundary control points, involving about 9 000 parallel traders and goods with a total value of over $75 million. During the same period, the C&ED detected a total of about 5 500 cases of illegal export of powdered formula, involving the arrest of about 5 500 persons and the seizure of over 26 000 kilograms of powdered formula.
      
     In addition to enhancing immigration control and co-operation in law enforcement between the customs authorities of both sides, the Government has also been committed to co-ordinating various law enforcement agencies in implementing a series of measures on environmental hygiene, tidiness and street management to improve the situation. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has stepped up street cleaning services and enforcement actions at parallel trading black spots in North District and Yuen Long District. From January 2018 to May 2019, the FEHD conducted about 400 raids targeting parallel trading black spots in North District and issued about 8 100 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) under the Fixed Penalty (Public Cleanliness and Obstruction) Ordinance to offenders. As for Yuen Long District, the FEHD conducted about 170 raids targeting parallel trading black spots in the district and issued about 660 FPNs under the Fixed Penalty (Public Cleanliness and Obstruction) Ordinance to offenders during the same period.
      
     The Police have also from time to time patrolled parallel trading black spots and enhanced law enforcement against obstruction caused by parallel traders placing goods in public places and road obstruction caused by illegal parking and loading or unloading of goods relating to parallel trading activities. Between January 2018 and May 2019, the Police issued 18 summonses for obstruction caused by parallel traders placing goods in public places under the Summary Offences Ordinance and about 18 500 FPNs for road obstruction caused by illegal parking and loading or unloading of goods related to parallel trading activities under the Fixed Penalty (Traffic Contraventions) Ordinance and the Fixed Penalty (Criminal Proceedings) Ordinance in New Territories North Region, including such districts as Sheung Shui, Yuen Long, Tuen Mun and Lok Ma Chau.
      
     The relevant Government departments will continue to proactively implement appropriate measures to mitigate the impact on the community brought by parallel trading activities.

     Police found that a large number of protestors assembled near MTR Sheung Shui Station, particularly along San Wan Road. The scene became very chaotic and dangerous at the moment.

     Police observed that the actions of protestors were highly organised and a large amount of equipment was distributed. Some protestors collected a lot of iron poles and other offensive weapons, demolished the railings nearby, and blocked the roads using water barriers and some miscellaneous objects.

     Police severely condemn the protestors who actively charged police officers. Some protestors assaulted the police officers with iron poles and scattered unknown powder at them. During which, some officers and reporters at scene were injured.

     The scene became highly chaotic and dangerous at the moment. Police appeal to other members of the public to leave the scene as soon as possible and stay safe. Police will soon conduct dispersal action. All the protestors at scene should leave immediately and stop any violent and illegal actions.