It's been more than a month since the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) enacted restrictions on the amount of baby milk formula that can be taken from Hong Kong into the Chinese mainland.

The regulations were put into place, apparently, amid fears that mainland buyers were sucking dry the supplies in Hong Kong. Since the restrictions, people have been fined and even arrested for carrying more baby milk than they are allowed. But it's still too early to call it "mission accomplished."

It's a cash-only transaction, there's an implicit understanding between the parties involved. No questions asked, and no probes welcomed.

At the Luohu port in Shenzhen, a port of entry into Hong Kong, just walk by casually and you'll see goods and cash exchange hands the way you'd see in an organized crime movie.

But the reality is far more innocent, selling like hot cakes here is baby milk formula bought in Hong Kong.

Last month, authorities in Hong Kong banned travelers from leaving the city with more than 1.8 kilograms of formula, apparently to ward off milk-craving mainlanders worried about food safety at home.

But with a huge customer base ready to shell out big bucks, profit-seeking merchants are coming up with new ways to beat the system.

Tens of thousands of people travel between Shenzhen and Hong Kong daily. The idea is to get enough people to carry a can or two, and there won't be a shortage of baby formula from Hong Kong despite the restrictions.

And on the internet, there are already posts calling on people to carry a can of milk powder whenever they travel from Hong Kong to the mainland. Even if they don't need it themselves, they can always sell it to those in need.

"There is a demand. So why not bring a can or two?" said a Shenzhen resident.

Now at the cross-boundary tunnel between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, besides drugs and other regular contraband, Hong Kong SAR authorities have also stepped up inspections on baby milk formula.

According to Hong Kong customs authorities, 499 people were arrested and 2,100 kilograms of baby formula confiscated as a result of the new regulations.

Meanwhile, industry insiders say baby formula both smuggled in from Hong Kong and legally imported from abroad have shot up 20-30 percent on the Chinese mainland.

Legal experts say though the way the transactions are conducted may look a bit shady, but as far as they see, the baby milk carriers are not breaking any laws.

(CNTV.cn April 7, 2013)