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run a regional liaison office established in Hong Kong since December 1987. This is a central body, primarily for the co-ordination, analysis and dissemination of intelligence on Customs fraud and drug-related matters within the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Region.
Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Protection Legislation
The Customs and Excise Department investigates complaints relating to infringement of copyright and trade marks as well as false trade descriptions. Apart from maintaining close liaison with overseas enforcement authorities and with the owners of copyright and trade marks in the fight against counterfeiting and piracy, government officers have also been sent to international conferences and seminars on intellectual property rights protection.
The piracy of computer software and video tapes was contained significantly by the department's continued enforcement action. A new type of piracy of TV games emerged in 1992. Large quantities of infringing TV games and printed circuit boards were seized from various retail outlets and TV games centres with a total value of $37.80 million.
In suppressing illicit trade in counterfeit and falsely-labelled goods, seizures amounting to $193.40 million were recorded in 1992. Great attention was paid to the eradication of local manufacturing and distribution centres. Efforts were also made to eliminate retail outlets for fake watches, leatherware and clothing articles.
Police Complaints Committee
The main function of the Police Complaints Committee is to monitor and review investigation by the Complaints Against Police Office (CAPO) of the Royal Hong Kong Police of complaints made against the police by the public. Set up in 1986 to replace the former UMELCO Police Group, the committee is an independent body appointed by the Governor. The chairman and two vice-chairmen are normally drawn from the Office of Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils (OMELCO). Committee members include eight Justices of the Peace, the Attorney General or his representative and the Commissioner for Administrative Complaints.
During the year, the committee endorsed 3 102 complaint cases, after being satisfied that each case had been thoroughly and impartially investigated by CAPO. Arising from the reviewing of these complaint cases, the committee proposed a number of changes to police practices, procedures and instructions, with a view to improving the overall effectiveness of the complaint system and assisting the Commissioner of Police in minimising public complaints against the police.
Independent Commission Against Corruption
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is independent of the Civil Service; its commissioner is directly responsible to the Governor. It fights corruption on three fronts: investigation, prevention and education. It carries out this work through three functional departments - Operations, Corruption Prevention and Community Relations.
The ICAC received a total of 2 276 reports of corruption allegations in 1992. Setting aside those arising from public elections, 1 167 reports concerned the private sector, which was an increase of two per cent over 1991. Another 1 032 reports were made against civil servants, an increase of six per cent compared with 1991. There were 58 reports against employees of public bodies as compared with 64 in 1991.