Parallel trading in Hong Kong

Parallel trading in Hong Kong
Traditional Chinese水貨客
Simplified Chinese水货客
Literal meaningwater goods travellers
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinshuǐhuò kè
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationséui fo haak
Jyutpingseoi2 fo3 haak3
Parallel traders outside a pharmacy shop in Hong Kong.

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]