Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Fight Crime Committee on Thursday, Tang said that the proposed changes are designed to close existing legal loopholes by raising penalties and clarifying the criminal liability of buyers.
Under the new proposals, the maximum fine for selling illegal fuel would be increased from HK$200,000 to HK$3 million, and the maximum prison term would be raised from one year to three years – a move Tang said would serve as a stronger deterrent.
In addition, authorities plan to expand the enforcement powers of the Fire Services Department.
The department, he said, would be granted arrest powers in cases involving illegal refuelling, as well as the authority to stop, search and seize vehicles to improve enforcement efficiency.
Tang also noted that the government is studying the legal liability of those who purchase illegal fuel.
“The current provisions mainly target sellers. Buyers are not subject to any legal restrictions,” he said.
“In the absence of legal constraints on the demand side, this makes such crimes more likely to occur. We hope to clearly establish the criminal liability of buyers to plug this loophole.”
The security chief revealed that authorities have received 656 complaints related to illegal refuelling – twice the amount compared to the same period last year.
The number of cases in urban areas, he said, has surged from ten in the first quarter of last year to 61 in the same period this year, a rise of 5.1 times.
Tang highlighted several dangerous incidents in densely populated areas.
“For example, a mobile illegal refuelling station in Cheung Sha Wan caused a vehicle fire that damaged several cars in February and led to two injuries,” he said.
“In March this year, in To Kwa Wan, we raided an illegal refuelling station located in a street-level shop, seizing approximately 850 litres of fuel. If that amount of fuel were ignited and exploded, the destructive force would be equivalent to 1,000 pounds of explosives.
“The location is near residential buildings and even has an elderly home. If an accident were to occur, the consequences would be unimaginable.”
The government aims to submit a draft bill to the Legislative Council by the end of this year.