- Chung, 53, accused by police of being an ‘important gang member’ in operation taking mobile phones over borders
A Hongkonger who has been missing since Friday was detained on suspicion of smuggling offences while travelling on the mega bridge to Macau, authorities from mainland China said on Monday.
Security officials from Guangdong said a 53-year-old man called Chung was held onFriday afternoon by Zhuhai police and customs, who accused him of being involved in the smuggling of mobile phones in August 2012.
He was wanted by customs in the mainland border city of Shenzhen, according to the Guangdong provincial public security department.
Hongkonger reportedly disappears during security check on bridge to Macau
"Chung is an important member of the gang, and Zhuhai border control has already transferred him to the relevant authority," the department said in a post on Weibo, a microblogging site popular on the mainland.
The Hong Kong resident was travelling on a coach along the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge when he was detained at a new security checkpoint manned by mainland officials on Friday afternoon, his son Benny told local media earlier.
A source said Chung was previously identified as Chan.
Security on the world's longest sea crossing has been tightened ahead of President Xi Jinping's visit to the former Portuguese colony on Wednesday to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its handover to China.
Zhuhai public security bureau revealed temporary new security arrangements earlier this month covering the period December 10-22.
It involved establishing a new mainland checkpoint on an artificial island linked to the bridge to "create a good social environment" for the celebrations.
That temporary checkpoint on Eastern Artificial Island, which falls in mainland waters, introduces inspections of vehicles which previously travelled freely along the bridge from Hong Kong to Macau.
Democratic Party lawmaker James To Kun-sun said the new mainland barrier had damaged business confidence for those moving between Hong Kong and Macau who did not wish to enter the mainland.
"There is no question the Eastern Artificial Island is in mainland territory, but the bridge has always meant to provide a special passage from Hong Kong to Macau. There is no reason to stop people halfway through," To said.
He said if Macau authorities were worried about the threat to the president they could simply refuse entry to the city, instead of allowing mainland officials to intercept travellers.
Zhuhai police added that several wanted persons, other than Chung, had been arrested when travelling from Hong Kong to Macau or Zhuhai since December 10.
As of Sunday, the Security Bureau in Hong Kong had not received any notifications from mainland authorities about the imposition of criminal compulsory measures, such as arrests, against city residents.
The agreed notification system does not cover administrative detention in mainland China, which is a common offence where authorities have discretion to detain a person for a maximum of 15 days.
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