A subway beggar is persuaded to leave the train. (File photo/Beijing Youth Daily)
(ECNS) -- Subway beggars are still proving hard to tackle in Beijing, even when caught red-handed, as they simply do not have enough money to pay the fines, the Beijing Youth Daily reports.
In the three months since May 1, only 40 out of over 300 cases have been adequately punished according to regulations.
"It is extremely rare that we collect any fines," a law enforcement official said, adding "They don't have any cash in their pockets and no money to give away. There is not much we can do except give them an administrative warning. Then they just return and keep begging."
An administrative warning would be enough if beggars were only caught once or twice. However, repeat offenders must be further transferred to public security officials.
The number of beggars on the Beijing subway system has decreased since the ticket price rose. However, many still ride around subway lines 1, 2, 4, 5 and 10, begging and distributing leaflets.
Most of the subway beggars come from Minxian county in Northwest China's Gansu and Minquan county in Central China's Henan provinces, according to reports.
