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this is not possible, legal action is taken. During the year, a total of 2,745 cases were prosecuted resulting in $534,390.00 being imposed in fines. The New Projects Section of the bureau processed 5,756 new building plans, an increase of 91.23 per cent over the preceding year. The bureau is also active in publicising the dangers of fire, through radio, TV, newspapers and other media. It organises fire prevention campaigns, exhibition lectures and displays throughout the Colony.
One of the major achievements of the year has been the comple- tion of the new Kowloon Headquarters Complex. This modern 13-storey block replaces temporary and out of date buildings previously used. The new Canton Road Fire Station contained in the building is a replacement for the Fire Station in Salisbury Road which provided fire cover to the Tsim Sha Tsui area for over 50 years. The complex also houses Kowloon Command Headquarters, fire and ambulance control rooms, workshops, a fireboat berth and recreational facilities for personnel including a gymnasium.
THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE
The Preventive Service of the Commerce and Industry Depart- ment is a uniformed and disciplined force of 974 officers responsible for those measures which in a customs-controlled port are handled by a Customs and Excise Department. Being a free port, Hong Kong imposes a duty on only five categories of imported goods (tobacco, liquor, hydrocarbon oils, table waters and methyl alcohol). This is matched by an excise tax on the same items locally manu- factured.
The service has a major responsibility in the prevention of narcotics smuggling and all vessels arriving in Hong Kong from ports which are suspected to be outlets for narcotic drugs are boarded and searched by specially trained teams and/or 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. The service enforces legislation controlling import and export of cargo and acts as a law enforce- ment agent for other government departments.