PUBLIC ORDER
270
posts and is primarily responsible for the collection and protection of revenue payable under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, the suppression of illicit trafficking in narcotics, the prevention and detection of smuggling, and the protection of intellectual and industrial property rights.
Revenue Protection
The department is responsible for collecting revenue on six groups of dutiable commodities in Hong Kong – alcoholic liquor, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil, methyl alcohol, non-alcoholic beverages and cosmetics. In 1990, revenue of $5,397 million was collected on these dutiable commodities, compared with $4,468 million in 1989.
In early 1990, there was an increase in cases of smuggling cigarettes to China by small craft and relanding of dutiable cigarettes for export by sea. Apart from stepping up marine patrols and searches, added control measures were introduced in May, largely by strengthening restrictions on the export of cigarettes by vessels of less than 250 tons net register and a new requirement of documentary evidence of permission to import in respect of applications to export cigarettes to China.
Anti-Narcotics Operations
The department continued to co-operate closely with the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, overseas customs authorities and other law enforcement agencies in the prevention and suppression of illicit trafficking in narcotics.
During the year, 76 kilograms of heroin, 28 kilograms of opium and 138 kilograms of cannabis were seized. A total of 1 002 persons were charged with drug offences.
Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds)
The department and the police have joint responsibility for enforcing the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance 1989.
On application from the department, the court issued 14 orders prohibiting dealing with realisable properties suspected to be proceeds of drug trafficking. Some five cases were concluded and the court ordered the confiscation of $465,232-worth of assets.
Anti-Smuggling and Import and Export Controls
In 1990, the department detected 386 smuggling cases under the Import and Export Ordinance, arrested 569 persons and seized $37 million worth of goods.
Smuggling by sea between Hong Kong and China was rampant during the first half of the year. With high-powered speedboats and motorised sampans, smugglers operated mostly at night carrying large quantities of television sets and video cassette recorders to China. To counter this, the Export (Television Sets and Video Cassette Recorder) Regulations 1990 were enacted on June 8. These regulations prohibit the export of television sets and video cassette recorders on vessels of less than 250 tons without an export licence.
Early in the year, fourteen chemicals which may be used in the manufacture of toxicological agents for military use were brought under export licensing control under the Import and Export (General) Regulations. One additional chemical was brought under export licensing control on April 30. The department is responsible for enforcing the licensing requirement in respect of the export of these chemicals.