PUBLIC ORDER
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which cover Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, and three specialist/ support branches
the Customs and Excise Headquarters, the Customs Investigation Bureau and the Customs Technical Bureau. Its main functions are to enforce the laws of Hong Kong relating to dutiable commodities, dangerous drugs, import and export controls and copyright protection. The service is also charged with a wide range of other responsibilities, including the prevention and detection of illegally imported goods which are prohibited or restricted for reasons of public health and safety or in compliance with international obligations.
Revenue Protection
There are four dutiable commodities in Hong Kong - alcoholic liquors, tobacco, methyl alcohol and hydrocarbon oil used as fuel for motor vehicles and aircraft. The Customs and Excise Service is responsible for collecting and protecting revenue derived from dutiable commodities. Controls over the import, export, manufacture, sale and storage of these commodities throughout Hong Kong are imposed under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Some $937.03 million in revenue was collected on dutiable commodities in the 1981-2 financial year, compared with $917.38 million in 1980–1.
Anti-narcotics Operations
The service is responsible for the prevention and suppression of illicit trafficking in narcotics and other dangerous drugs under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. Apart from intercepting illegal imports, action is also taken against drug manufacturing, trafficking and abuse in Hong Kong. The service maintains close liaison and co-operation with the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, overseas customs authorities and other law enforcement agencies.
During the year, anti-narcotics operations led to the seizure of 399 kilograms of dangerous drugs - including 21 kilograms of heroin, 200 kilograms of heroin base, one kilogram of morphine and 120 kilograms of opium. A total of 1 098 persons was charged with narcotics offences.
Copyright Protection
The Customs and Excise Service is responsible under the Copyright Ordinance for protecting copyright in respect of literary, dramatic and musical works. While the problem of piracy in sound recording has been largely contained, illicit copying of motion pictures and television programmes remains a major concern of the Copyright Protection Division. During 1982, the Copyright Protection Division undertook 63 copyright investigations resulting in 60 persons being charged and seizures of 2 289 pirated video tapes and 28 video recorders. An offshoot of the division's activities in video recording has been the seizure of large quantities of pornographic tapes which led to 40 persons being charged with offences under the Objectionable Publications Ordinance.
Independent Commission Against Corruption
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) continued to be active through- out 1982 in three major areas: investigation into complaints of corruption, corruption. prevention and community relations.
A significant development in the year was a drop of 126 in the number of complaints of corruption in the public sector, representing a decrease of eight per cent. However, this