TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 1981
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THE HARBOUR COMMAND UNITS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING IMPORT AND EXPORT CONTROL AND ANTI-SMUGGLING MEASURES OVER SEA-BORNE TRAFFIC. THIS WORK COVERS UPWARD OF 105 000 CARGO VESSELS ENTERING AND LEAVING HONG KONG HARBOUR EACH YEAR, AN ANNUAL TURNOVER OF 24.6 MILLION TONNES OF SEA CARGO AND THE CONTROL OF MORE THAN 15 000 LOCALLY-REGISTERED FISHING BOATS AND PLEASURE CRAFTS. IN ADDITION, THE DIVISION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER THREE MILLION PASSENGERS ARRIVING FROM MACAU EVERY YEAR.
ALTHOUGH THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE VARIOUS CONTROLS IS TO PREVENT THE SMUGGLING OF DANGEROUS DRUGS INTO HONG KONG, CONSIDERABLE EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON THE PROTECTION AND COLLECTION OF REVENUE FROM DUTIABLE COMMODITIES, AND MEASURES ARE ALSO TAKEN TO PREVENT ILLEGAL IMPORT OR EXPORT OF PROHIBITED GOODS AND UNMANIFESTED CARGO.
WITH THE REGIONALISATION OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE THIS WEEK, THESE CONTROLS HAVE BECOME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HONG KONG REGION PREVIOUSLY THEY CAME UNDER THE HARBOUR AND MARINE SUB-DIVISION OF THE HARBOUR DIVISION.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OFF TO LISBON AIR TALKS
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MR J.T. THORPE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION, LEFT TONIGHT (TUESDAY) TO ATTEND THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS CONFERENCE ON +AIR SERVICE AND THE PASSENGERS+, OPENING IN LISBON NEXT WEEK.
THE CONFERENCE IS SPONSORED JOINTLY BY THE AIRPORT OPERATORS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL AND THE WESTERN EUROPEAN AIRPORTS ASSOCIATION, AND IS A FORUM FOR OPERATORS OF ALL MAJOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS.
THE THEME OF THE CONFERENCE WILL FOCUS ON THE GROWING PROBLEMS FACING LARGE CIVIL AIRPORTS IN PROVIDING EFFICIENT SERVICES TO AIRLINES AND THEIR PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT, AND OTHER AIRPORT USERS.
OTHER SUBJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED INCLUDE PASSENGER FACILITATION, AIRPORT INFORMATION SYSTEMS, CAR PARKING AND SURFACE TRANSPORT ACCESS AT AIRPORT, AIRPORT SECURITY, THE CAPACITY OF AIRPORT SYSTEMS GENERALLY AND A REVIEW OF RECENT AIRPORT ECONOMIC AND TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENTS.
BEFORE GOING TO LISBON, MR THORPE WILL ATTEND AS MEMBER OF AN INTERVIEW BOARD IN LONDON, TO INTERVIEW APPLICANTS AND SELECT CANDIDATES FOR POSTS IN THE GROUP CURRENTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PLANNING OF THE PROPOSED REPLACEMENT AIRPORT.
AFTER THE AIRPORT CONFERENCE, MR THORPE WILL TAKE A SHORT PERIOD OF LEAVE BEFORE RETURNING TO HONG KONG IN MID-AUGUST.
MR N. LATHAM, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (AIR SERVICES), WILL ACT AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR DURING THE ABSENCE OF MR THORPE.
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