PUBLIC ORDER
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Efficiency is maintained by regular in-service training at Auxiliary Police Head- quarters on Hong Kong Island and at the various auxiliary unit bases. Members of the auxiliary force are required to undergo a minimum amount of training each year.
Customs and Excise Service
The Customs and Excise Service is a disciplined force of 1,292 officers controlled by the Director of Trade Industry and Customs.
The service is responsible for collecting and protecting revenue derived from four dutiable commodities - alcoholic liquors, tobacco, methyl alcohol, and hydrocarbon oils used as fuel for motor vehicles and aircraft. Controls over the import, export, manufacture, sale and storage of these commodities throughout Hong Kong are imposed under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, which is administered by the service. Some $707 million in revenue was collected on dutiable commodities in the 1977-8 financial year, compared with $680 million in 1976–7. Seizures and confisca- tions involved 1,380 kilograms of tobacco, 9,190 litres of liquor and 26,087 litres of diesel oil. A total of 1,354 people were arrested or summonsed and fines amounting to $224,420 were imposed by the courts.
The service is also responsible for the prevention and suppression of illicit trafficking in narcotics, other dangerous drugs and acetylating substances under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance and the Acetylating Sub- stances (Control) Ordinance. More than half of the service is committed to anti- narcotics activities. Apart from intercepting illegal imports by sea and air, action is taken against premises used for the manufacture, storage, sale and smoking of drugs. During the year, anti-narcotics operations led to the seizure of 232 kilograms of dangerous drugs -- including 88 kilograms of heroin and 28 kilograms of morphine and 315 litres of acetic anhydride. A total of 1,078 people were arrested for narcotics offences, of whom 225 were charged with trafficking. The remainder were charged with simple possession or with smoking dangerous drugs. The illicit market value of the narcotics and acetic anhydride seized totalled more than $24 million.
The service is the sole agency for enforcement of the Copyright Ordinance. During the year, the copyright unit handled 72 cases connected with copyright infringement resulting in the seizure of 270 tape recorders, 3,909 records, 46,340 pirated tapes and 6,553 pirated books. A total of 66 people were convicted of various copyright offences and fines amounting to $205,350 were imposed by the courts.
Independent Commission Against Corruption
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), established in February, 1974, is responsible for the detection and investigation of suspected corruption offences, the prevention of corruption and the enlistment of public support in combating corruption. In discharging such functions, the Commissioner of the ICAC is responsible directly to the Governor. The ICAC engages its own staff who are not within the purview of the Public Services Commission. It is financed from general
revenue.
The Advisory Committee on Corruption, which is composed of leading citizens and senior government officials, advises the Governor and the Commissioner on policy matters affecting the commission's staffing, financial estimates, administration and any