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PUBLIC ORDER
The service, a disciplined force of 2 549 officers, comprises a major part of the Customs and Excise Department. It has three regions - Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories - and three specialist/support branches: Command Headquarters, an Investiga- tion Bureau and a Technical Bureau.
Revenue Protection
There are four dutiable commodities in Hong Kong - alcoholic liquors, tobacco, methyl alcohol, and hydrocarbon oils used as fuel for motor vehicles and aircraft. The Customs and Excise Service is responsible for collecting and protecting revenue from dutiable commodities. The Dutiable Commodities Ordinance imposes controls on the import, export, manufacture, sale and storage of these commodities throughout Hong Kong. In 1983-4, $2,583.60 million was collected on dutiable commodities, compared with $1,245.69 million in 1982–3.
Anti-Narcotics Operations
The service has a responsibility for the prevention and suppression of illicit trafficking in narcotics and other dangerous drugs. It intercepts illegal imports and takes action against drug manufacturing, trafficking and abuse in Hong Kong. The service co-operates closely with the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, overseas customs authorities and other law enforcement agencies.
During the year, 284 kilograms of dangerous drugs were seized, including 99 kilograms of heroin, 151 kilograms of heroin base, four kilograms of opium and 29 kilograms of cannabis. Altogether, 1 437 people were charged with narcotics offences.
Copyright Protection
The service is responsible for protecting the copyright of literary, dramatic and musical works. While the problem of pirated sound recordings has largely been contained, illicit copying of motion pictures and television programmes remains a major concern. In 1984, the Copyright Division made 63 copyright investigations, which resulted in 122 people being charged and the seizure of 1 480 pirated video tapes and 92 video recorders. In addition, as an offshoot of the division's activities in this field, 1053 pornographic video tapes were seized, and 41 people charged with offences under the Objectionable Publications Ordinance.
Independent Commission Against Corruption
The ICAC has now been in existence for 10 years. Sustained effort in its work of investigation, prevention and education combined with excellent public support, have produced two major results: the widespread and syndicated corruption of the 1960s and early 1970s has been eradicated and not permitted to re-emerge; and the commission is now fully accepted as an integral part of Hong Kong's social structure. The commission has also gained increasing international esteem which can best be exemplified by the growing number of distinguished visitors from overseas and the study tours made by anti- corruption officers of other countries, as well as by the leading role played by the com- mission at high-level conferences and consultations overseas.
However, in 1984, corruption complaints directed at individual civil servants and the private sector continued to be received, and, in the mood of public uncertainty concerning Hong Kong's future, large-scale fraud facilitated by corruption in commercial and banking circles increasingly became the subject of complaints.