Hong Kong anti-parallel trading activists plan fresh New Territories rally

Yet another protest against mainland shoppers and parallel traders is planned for Sunday, as cross-border tensions show no sign of easing.

Organisers expect at least 100 people to rally this weekend in the border town of Sheung Shui, saying parallel trading activities - buying of goods in Hong Kong for resale on the mainland - had not decreased following four demonstrations in the New Territories in recent weeks.

The previous rallies have seen chaotic scenes, with protesters kicking at luggage carried by people they suspected to be parallel traders and verbally insulting a mother and her daughter in Tuen Mun more than a week ago.

The North District Parallel Imports Concern Group, the organiser of Sunday's rally, said on its Facebook page that members were taking to the streets after parallel trading worsened, spreading from Sheung Shui to other areas.

"We fail to see any resolution by the [Hong Kong] government in dealing with the issue of parallel trading," the group said.

The organiser urged residents planning to join Sunday's event not to shout any slogans or raise any political demands other than about parallel trading.