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PUBLIC ORDER
The average daily turnout of auxiliaries for constabulary duties in 1985 was about 700 officers.
The standard of education of the recruits improved during the year and many were professionally qualified in fields such as engineering, architecture, law, administration and surveying.
The Auxiliary Police Headquarters were moved from their site in Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island at the end of 1984 and are now established temporarily at Kowloon Bay, adjacent to Hong Kong International Airport.
Customs and Excise Department
In 1985, the Customs and Excise Department was reorganised into three major branches the Headquarters Branch responsible for, departmental administration, revenue and training; the Operations Branch comprising the three Customs and Excise Service regions together with the three Trade Inspection regions, and the Investigation Branch comprising the Customs Investigation Bureau, the Trade Investigation Bureau and the Trading Standards Investigation Bureau.
The major component part of the department is the Customs and Excise Service, a disciplined force of 2 612 officers and men which enforces Hong Kong's laws on dutiable commodities, dangerous drugs, import and export controls and copyright protection. Other responsibilities include the prevention and detection of illegally imported goods which are prohibited or restricted for public health or safety reasons or to meet interna- tional obligations.
The work of the Trade Controls Group, another arm of the department manned by Industry Grade officers, is given in Chapter 4, Industry and Trade.
Revenue Protection
There are six groups of dutiable commodities in Hong Kong - alcoholic liquors, tobacco, methyl alcohol, hydrocarbon oils used as fuel for motor vehicles and aircraft, non-alcoholic beverages and cosmetics. 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 1984-5, $2,343.60 million was collected on dutiable commod- ities, compared with $2,583.60 million in 1983-4.
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, 315 kilograms of dangerous drugs were seized, including 48 kilograms of heroin, 90 kilograms of heroin base, 33 kilograms of opium and 144 kilograms of cannabis. A total of 1 300 people were charged with drug 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 been contained, illicit copying of motion pictures and television programmes and unauthorised photocopying of books