A 50-day campaign to fight product smuggling was launched yesterday in South China's Guangdong Province in preparation for possible smuggling activity during the New Year and the Spring Festival.

"Traditionally speaking, smuggling activity peaks during the two festivals," said Cheng Liangzhou, director of the provincial government's anti-smuggling office.

To seriously curb smuggling activity, a taskforce has been established among the anti-smuggling office, Guangdong Sub-Administration of Customs, Guangdong Provincial Industrial and Commercial Administration and the Frontier Defence Department of the Provincial Public Security Administration.

Cargo transportation channels, processing and assembling plants, and some water areas will be put under close watch.

Products like cigarettes, wine, fruit, used household appliances and clothes, CDs and DVDs, automobiles and parts, computers, rubber, camera equipment, iron and steel, and textile materials are among the key items that will be monitored.

A reward programme for individuals who provide information on smuggling cases as well as employees at local authorities involved in apprehending criminals is being discussed.

With the implementation of closer economic partnership arrangements with Hong Kong and Macao set for January 1, preparations for an anti-smuggling campaign have been completed.

"Smuggling deals will be facilitated with the closer economic partnership between Hong Kong and Macao and the Chinese mainland, especially in Guangdong," said Ni Zhi'an, deputy-director of the Guangdong Sub-Administration of Customs.

"Geographically close to Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, Guangdong is a hot place for smuggling trade," Ni added.

Contact with Hong Kong police has been tightened to better carry out the campaign, Ni said.

From August to October, detected cases of smuggling reached 3,677, and caused an economic loss of about 830 million yuan (US$100 million).

(China Daily December 12, 2003)