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Authorities out to rip into illegal garment trade

By Qiu Quanlin (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-10 09:09

GUANGZHOU: Authorities in Shanwei, Guangdong province, want to sweep "foreign rubbish" off the streets.

Law enforcers destroy smuggled garments in Dongguan, Guangdong province, in this file photo from Jan 6. [China Daily]

The eastern coastal city that is known for its seafood is making a new name for itself as a major hub in the trading of illegally imported previously-dumped foreign garments, with more than 100 million items passing through the city each year, according to a report in Guangzhou Daily.

Now, the city is taking a harder line in the war against the trade.

"The office responsible for combating smuggling will strengthen inspection forces from several government authorities of public security, frontier defense and industry and commerce to tackle the rampant trading of rubbish garments," said Chen Xiangxin, vice mayor of Shanwei.

He said the crackdown is already working. Some 120 tons of smuggled garments have been confiscated in Jieshi township, Lufeng county, since July.

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But Li Qun, a resident of Jieshi and a former garment trader, said the previously-owned clothes are still everywhere.

In Jieshi township, at least 10,000 shops are refurbishing and selling the once-dumped garments, Li said.

"They come in from Hong Kong and are then distributed to some big garment wholesale centers in the Pearl River Delta region and other provinces after simple refurbishment," Li said. "They are refurbished without disinfection."

Some garments are sold online for between 2 yuan and 20 yuan, Li said.

Most foreign-disposed garments are not disinfected before they are illegally transported to China, said Kang Mingchao, a professor with Guangzhou Textile and Garment Institute.

"Such garments can be harmful to the health because they carry bacteria," he said.

Kang called on local government authorities to attach even more importance to tackling the illegal trade.

"Officials who are found to have developed relationships with illegal smugglers will be severely punished," said Chen Zengxin, Lufeng county Party secretary.