PUBLIC ORDER
Anti-smuggling and Import and Export Controls
During the year, the department detected 568 smuggling cases under the Import and Export Ordinance, arrested 752 persons and seized $171 million worth of goods.
Smuggling between Hong Kong and China remained prevalent. At sea, stolen luxury saloon cars were being smuggled by high-powered speed-boats, while electrical appliances were shipped out by Chinese territorial trading or fishing vessels. The situation was, however, contained towards the end of the year, due to the assiduous efforts of the Joint Police/Customs Anti-smuggling Task Force and various enforcement units of the department. On land, smugglers made use of the busy cross-border traffic to smuggle vehicles, computer parts, telecommunications equipment and electrical appliances out of the territory. These goods were often smuggled by concealing them inside false compartments in containers, or by disguising or mixing them with other cargoes under false declarations.
A legislative amendment, the Import and Export (Amendment) Ordinance 1993, was introduced on August 6 to simplify and speed up the forfeiture of seized articles, vessels and vehicles. Under the new legislation, the maximum penalty for importing and exporting strategic commodities has also been increased to seven years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine.
Strategic Commodities
The department is responsible for the enforcement of import and export control of strategic commodities. The objectives of these controls are to inspire international confidence in Hong Kong's ability to contain the spread of these commodities to countries of arms proliferation concern and to ensure continued access for Hong Kong to high technology equipment. Enforcement of these controls also prevents Hong Kong from being used as a centre from which weapons of mass destruction or their component parts can be distributed on a large scale. During the year, the department carried out physical examinations at entry and exit points, and consignment checks at traders' premises to ensure that imports and exports of controlled goods were properly licensed. Detailed investigations were also made into suspected illegal diversions with a view to prosecution.
Customs Co-operation Council
Hong Kong is a member of the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC), established to improve and rationalise international customs operations and facilitate international trade.
The department takes part regularly in the CCC's annual plenary meetings, and other seminars and meetings on enforcement, customs techniques, computer technology and intellectual property rights protection. The department also contributes to CCC regional projects by organising and assisting in the running of training courses on narcotics. investigation and ship rummaging techniques, for other CCC members within the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Region.
Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Protection
The department is the sole agency responsible for investigating complaints relating to infringements of copyright and trade marks, as well as false trade descriptions under the Copyright Ordinance and the Trade Descriptions Ordinance. Apart from enforcement action, close liaison is maintained with copyright and trade mark owners, the legal
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