PUBLIC ORDER
Preventive Service
121
The Hong Kong Preventive Service is a disciplined force of 1,100 officers and men under the control of the Director of Commerce and Industry in his capacity as Commissioner.
The service is responsible for the protection of revenue derived from three cate- gories of goods which are dutiable-alcoholic liquors, tobacco, and hydrocarbon oils used for automotive purposes. Physical controls over the import, export, manufac- ture, sale and storage of these commodities throughout Hong Kong are administered by the service. The success of revenue protection operations is reflected in the number of seizures made during the year-29 illicit stills, 14,816 gallons of fermenting materials, 2,705 lbs of tobacco, 2,546 gallons of liquor and 2,832 gallons of diesel oil were taken into custody and confiscated.
The service has important responsibilities in the prevention and detection of illicit narcotic and other dangerous drugs usage. More than half the strength of the service is now totally committed to anti-drug activity. While the main effort has centred on the prevention of illegal imports in the harbour and at the airport, there has been a concentrated drive against premises used for the manufacture and sale of drugs. During the year 1,400 successful operations were mounted leading to the seizure of 627 lbs of dangerous drugs, which included 30 lbs of heroin and 19 lbs of morphine. A total of 4,148 persons were arrested in connection with these cases; three persons were found manufacturing and 176 trafficking. The majority of persons arrested were convicted of simple possession of narcotics and smoking dangerous drugs in a divan. The total value of dangerous drugs seized was more than $3.6 million. In addition, 4,445 lbs of acetic anhydride (used in the manufacture of heroin) valued at $537,450, was seized aboard four ocean-going vessels.
At the beginning of the year the service assumed an additional responsibility when it became the sole agency for enforcing copyright legislation. A small unit was established within the service specifically to deal with matters concerning the infringe- ment of copyright. During the year this unit handled 78 cases involving the seizure of 268 tape cassette recorders, two high speed tape copying machines, 154,238 pirated cassette tapes, 15,581 pirated records, 339 pirated record cartridges and 58 pirated books. In addition, more than 8,000 blank cassette tapes were seized under the Merchandise Marks Ordinance for bearing false labels. A total of 67 persons were convicted of various copyright offences resulting in fines amounting to almost $230,000 being imposed by the courts.