Hong Kong is proposing tougher legal penalties to curb the illegal fuel trade. Buyers could face up to a $1 million fine and a year in jail, while sellers may see increased fines and jail time.

Buyers of illicit fuel in Hong Kong could face a maximum penalty of HK$1 million (US$127,687) and one year in prison under proposed legal amendments aimed at curbing illegal refuelling amid surging global oil prices, the South China Morning Post has learned. According to a government source, the Security Bureau has also proposed tougher penalties for sellers, increasing the maximum fine for a first conviction from HK$100,000 to HK$3 million and raising the maximum jail term from six months to...