Amid surging global oil prices, some car owners in Hong Kong have resorted to purchasing "ghost oil" from illegal fuelling stations, prompting the Security Bureau to propose extending criminal liability to buyers, with a maximum penalty of a HK$1 million fine and one year in prison upon conviction, while sellers face doubled penalties.
In a response to media enquiries, the Security Bureau confirmed that it has made preliminary recommendations to double the penalties for sellers and to bring buyers within the regulatory net, with a maximum penalty of a HK$1 million fine and one year in jail.
The bureau noted that illicit fuel transfer activities pose a serious threat to public safety and have shown signs of worsening recently.
In the first quarter of 2026, the Fire Services Department and Customs received a total of 656 complaints about illicit fuel transfer activities, up approximately 200% from the same period last year. The number of cases rose from 26 to 96, an increase of 269%, while the volume of fuel seized surged 225% from about 120,000 litres to 390,000 litres.
Notably, cases in urban areas jumped from 10 in the first quarter of last year to 61 in the same period this year, a sharp rise of 510%, indicating that illicit fuel activities are infiltrating densely populated areas, posing a more direct threat to public safety.
Under the current Fire Services (Fire Hazard Abatement) Regulation, the offence of illicit fuel transfer (by sellers) carries a maximum penalty of a HK$200,000 fine and one year in prison. Buyers of illicitly transferred fuel currently face no criminal liability.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone who handles, possesses, sells, or purchases untaxed petrol commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a maximum penalty of a HK$1 million fine and two years in prison.
The bureau has made preliminary recommendations to raise the maximum penalty for sellers under the Fire Services regulation to a HK$3 million fine and three years in prison, drawing on the higher penalties under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. For buyers, the proposed maximum penalty is a HK$1 million fine and one year in prison.
The bureau aims to submit the bill to the Legislative Council for deliberation by the end of 2026, with a view to implementing the measures as soon as possible.
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