FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1982
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HIGH ESPRIT DE CORPS AT CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT
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THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT SINCE AUGUST 1 HAD ADDED SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE ESPRIT DE CORPS OF THE SERVICE, THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR DOUGLAS JORDAN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
ADDRESSING THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG ISLAND, MR JORDAN REMARKED THAT WHEN THE DEPARTMENT WAS PART OF THE FORMER FEDERAL TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT, IT LACKED THE IDENTITY OF A SELF-CONTAINED ORGANISATION FULFILLING ITS OWN FUNCTION IN THE GOVERNMENT.
+THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE WILL BE STAFFED BY PROFESSIONAL OFFICERS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, OFFICERS WIDELY EXPERIENCED IN ALL ASPECTS OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE WORK, HE SAID,
RECOUNTING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENTS LEADING TO ITS ESTABLISHMENT AS A NEW INDEPENDENT SERVICE, MR JORDAN SAID: I CAME HERE IN LATE 1977 FROM THE BRITISH CUSTOMS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF REORGANISING AND MODERNISING THE SERVICE. THE TIMING COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE APPROPRIATE.+
HE RECALLED THAT THE HONG KONG CUSTOMS AND EXCISE HAD MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN THE 1970'S IN ANTI-NARCOTICS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IN DESTROYING TERRITORY-WIDE PRODUCTION AND SALE OF COUNTERFEIT GOODS.
IT HAD COPED WITH ITS PROBLEMS OF MEETING NEW DEMANDS ON ITS STAFFING, THE NEW KWAI CHUNG CONTAINER TERMINAL, THE RAPID EXPANSION OF TRAFFIC AT KAI TAK AND TO MACAU, AND THE DEMANDS ON ITS INVESTIGATIVE FORCES TO DEAL WITH ITS INCREASING ANTI-NARCOTICS RESPONSIBILITIES, HE RECALLED.
HE NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT ALL THIS HAD BEEN DONE BY REDEPLOYMENT OF STAFF AND BY EXCESSIVE DEMANDS ON THE EXISTING STAFF AND ORGANISATION.
+ IT RECEIVED ITS FAIR SHARE OF SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE UNDER THE FEDERAL UMBRELLA OF THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT. BUT FUNDAMENTALLY WHAT WAS WRONG WAS ITS OWN ORGANISATION BOTH FOR OPERATIONAL PURPOSES IN THE FIELD AND TO ENABLE EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION TO BE APPLIED CENTRALLY AT HEADQUARTERS.
+BY AND LARGE THE ORGANISATION WAS MUCH AS IT HAD BEEN FOR MANY YEARS PREVIOUSLY. ONLY THE PROBLEMS HAD CHANGED - AND GROWN BOTH IN SIZE AND NUMBER, HE SAID.
THE RAPID