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PUBLIC ORDER
The service has a major responsibility in the field of narcotics' smuggling. Because of Hong Kong's geographical and commercial position it has, in the past, become a transhipment point for narcotic drugs. All vessels arriving in Hong Kong, from ports which are known to be outlets for narcotic drugs, are boarded and searched by specially trained teams and are guarded throughout their stay in Hong Kong waters; similar attention is paid to aircraft arriving in Hong Kong. Selective searches are made of suspect cargoes and postal packets. During 1967, a total of 707 ships were guarded, 865 ships were searched and 929 lbs. of narcotics of all kinds, valued at $91,600, were seized.
The Preventive Service enforces the legislation controlling the import and export of cargo and acts as an agent for other govern- ment departments in the supervision of items which are controlled by them, particularly in the fields of arms and ammunition (for the Hong Kong Police) and plants, animals and dangerous insecticides (for the Agriculture and Fisheries Department).
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