Hong Kong Authorities Conduct 18 Operations Against Illicit Refuelling Amid Global Energy Price Surge

Apr 25, 2026, 06:17

Introduction

Hong Kong customs officials have executed 18 joint operations targeting illegal refuelling stations during the current year, a response to rising global energy costs. The Commissioner for Customs and Excise, Chan Tsz-tat, acknowledged an increase in such activities in urban areas but characterized the practice as not widespread.

Main Body

The enforcement actions, described by Commissioner Chan as part of a coordinated effort, reflect a trend of illicit refuelling becoming more prevalent in densely populated districts. However, Chan emphasized that the phenomenon remains limited in scope. He attributed this to the high cost of private vehicle ownership in Hong Kong and the region's elevated petrol prices, which he noted are among the highest in the area. According to Chan, the potential savings from using illegal fuel constitute a relatively small portion of overall vehicle operating expenses for most drivers, thereby reducing the incentive for widespread adoption. The global context for these operations involves a significant increase in energy prices since late February, following a military action by the United States and Israel against Iran. This event precipitated disruptions in crude oil supply chains, as both Tehran and Washington implemented successive blockades of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passage connecting to the oil-rich Persian Gulf. Consequently, the Brent crude benchmark rose to US$105 per barrel on the Saturday of the commissioner's statement, compared with approximately US$70 per barrel in February. These geopolitical developments have contributed to the surge in fuel costs, which in turn may influence the prevalence of illicit refuelling activities.

Conclusion

Hong Kong authorities continue to conduct enforcement operations against illegal refuelling stations, while the broader energy market remains affected by supply chain disruptions stemming from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The commissioner's remarks suggest that, despite the upward trend, the practice has not become endemic in the territory.

Vocabulary Learning

endemic (adj.)
widespread / regularly found in a particular area地方性的；常見的
Example:The commissioner remarked that the practice has not become endemic in Hong Kong.
geopolitical (adj.)
geopolitical / relating to politics and geography地緣政治的
Example:Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have contributed to the surge in fuel costs.
illicit (adj.)
illegal / forbidden by law非法的；違禁的
Example:Hong Kong authorities conducted operations against illicit refuelling stations.
maritime (adj.)
marine / relating to the sea海事的；海洋的
Example:The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime passage connecting to the Persian Gulf.
precipitate (v.)
trigger / to cause something to happen suddenly促使；引發
Example:The military action precipitated disruptions in crude oil supply chains.

Sentence Learning

The enforcement actions, described by Commissioner Chan as part of a coordinated effort, reflect a trend of illicit refuelling becoming more prevalent in densely populated districts.
Reduced Relative Clause: This sentence contains a reduced relative clause ('described by Commissioner Chan...') modifying 'enforcement actions', and a present participial phrase ('becoming more prevalent...') modifying 'illicit refuelling'. The structure adds conciseness and complexity.此句包含一個省略關係代詞的被動分詞片語（'described by Commissioner Chan...'）修飾 'enforcement actions'，以及一個現在分詞片語（'becoming more prevalent...'）修飾 'illicit refuelling'。這種結構使句子更簡潔而複雜。
He attributed this to the high cost of private vehicle ownership in Hong Kong and the region's elevated petrol prices, which he noted are among the highest in the area.
Non-restrictive Relative Clause: This sentence features a non-restrictive relative clause introduced by 'which' that provides additional information about petrol prices. The clause contains an embedded reporting structure ('he noted'), adding layers of attribution.此句包含一個由'which'引導的非限制性關係從句，提供關於油價的額外信息。該從句內嵌一個轉述結構（'he noted'），增加歸屬層次。
According to Chan, the potential savings from using illegal fuel constitute a relatively small portion of overall vehicle operating expenses for most drivers, thereby reducing the incentive for widespread adoption.
Participial Phrase: This sentence uses a fronted prepositional phrase ('According to Chan') for source attribution, and a present participial phrase ('thereby reducing...') to express the logical result of the preceding clause. The 'thereby' emphasizes causality.此句使用前置介詞片語（'According to Chan'）作來源歸屬，並用現在分詞片語（'thereby reducing...'）表達前文分句的邏輯結果。'thereby' 強調因果關係。
This event precipitated disruptions in crude oil supply chains, as both Tehran and Washington implemented successive blockades of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passage connecting to the oil-rich Persian Gulf.
Appositive and Reduced Relative Clause: This sentence contains an appositive noun phrase ('a critical maritime passage...') that provides additional description of the Strait of Hormuz. Within the appositive, a present participial phrase ('connecting to...') functions as a reduced relative clause, adding detail concisely.此句包含一個同位語名詞片語（'a critical maritime passage...'），對霍爾木茲海峽提供額外描述。在同位語中，一個現在分詞片語（'connecting to...'）充當省略關係代詞的關係從句，簡潔地添加細節。
Hong Kong authorities continue to conduct enforcement operations against illegal refuelling stations, while the broader energy market remains affected by supply chain disruptions stemming from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Complex Sentence with Subordinate Clause and Participial Phrase: This sentence is a complex sentence with a subordinate clause introduced by 'while', indicating contrast or simultaneity. The phrase 'stemming from' is a present participial phrase acting as a reduced relative clause modifying 'disruptions', adding causal information.此句是一個複合句，由'while'引導從句，表示對比或同時性。'stemming from' 是一個現在分詞片語，充當省略關係代詞的關係從句修飾'disruptions'，添加因果信息。