Parallel trading in Hong Kong | |||||||||||||
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Traditional Chinese | 水貨客 | ||||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 水货客 | ||||||||||||
Literal meaning | water goods travellers | ||||||||||||
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Parallel trading in Hong Kong is the phenomenon of Chinese parallel traders taking advantage of multiple entry visa policy to import goods from Hong Kong to mainland China, causing shortages of household goods in various locations starting in the North District and expanding to Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Tai Po and Shatin. Problems related to this include increasing congestion from day traders, overloading of infrastructure and disruption of the everyday lives of residents in the northern districts of Hong Kong.
Demand for significant volumes of daily necessities favoured by Shenzhen residents has progressively decreased the numbers of stores catering to local needs, and caused rent inflation and shortage of certain goods such as infant formula.[citation needed]