Hong Kong's Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung has revealed a review of fire safety laws to strengthen enforcement and penalties against illegal fuel sales amid surging global oil prices. The review considers increasing penalties, expanding the Fire Services Department's powers to arrest and seize vehicles, and examining liability for buyers of illegal fuel. Tang made the statement in response to lawmaker Jody Kwok Fu-yung's inquiry.
Hong Kong's Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said on Wednesday that, in view of the increasingly serious risks illicit fuelling activities pose to public safety, the government is actively reviewing relevant fire safety legislation to comprehensively strengthen the regulatory regime.
The review includes possible penalty increases, expanding enforcement powers for the Fire Services Department to make arrests and seize vehicles, and an examination of the legal liability of those who purchase illegal fuel.
Tang made the comments in reply to lawmaker Jody Kwok Fu-yung's inquiry.
Law enforcement agencies have ramped up raids on illegal diesel and petrol stations in recent months, with operations increasing amid surging oil prices, as a source told the South China Morning Post.
In the first two months of the year, the Fire Services Department conducted 349 inspections and raids, seizing 193,217 litres of fuel and initiating 73 prosecutions.
The Customs and Excise Department seized 16,339 litres of illicit fuel, 12 vehicles, and prosecuted three people over the same period.
Fuel prices have risen sharply since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, prompting Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest oil shipping passageways.
Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose by more than 60 per cent last month, reaching nearly US$117 a barrel.
Standard petrol prices in the city climbed to between HK$19.13 and HK$25.23 (US$2.44 and US$2.87) on March 30, up from HK$15.43 to HK$22.03 on February 28.
