Rumors that have emerged online indicating that mainland residents rushed to buy rice in Hong Kong were found to not be true, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported.

The newspaper contacted multiple supermarket chains in Hong Kong and found the sales and prices of rice to be at normal levels.

According to Hong Kong law, a person carrying more than 15 kilograms of rice across the border could be convicted to a maximum one-year sentence and be fined 50,000 HK dollars ($6,442).