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SUNL, DECEMBER 22, 1985
WITH INCREASED JNTACT BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA IN RECENT YEARS, THERE HAS ALS: BEEN AN UPSURGE IN SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES OF A DIFFERENT NATURE, INVOLVING MAINLY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES, LUXURY GOODS, GOLD AND SILVER COINS, ANTIQUES AND MEDICINAL HERBS, WHICH POSE YET ANOTHER PROBLEM FOR THE MARINE STRIKE AND SEARCH UNIT.
GOODS WITH TOTAL VALUES OF $3.22 MILLION WERE SEIZED IN OPERATIONS AGAINST THE ILLICIT TRADE LAST YEAR, WHILE SEIZURES MADE UP TO OCTOBER THIS YEAR AMOUNTED TO $0.97 MILLION,
APART FROM ANTI-SMUGGLING OPERATIONS AT SEA, OFFICERS ALSO CARRY OUT REGULAR PATROLS ON THE OUTLYING ISLANDS TO DETECT DIVANS AND PEDDLING OF DANGEROUS DRUGS ON STREET LEVEL, UNLAWFUL USE OF INDUSTRIAL DIESEL OIL BY AUTOMOBILES AS WELL AS TO CARRY OUT EXCISE LICENSING INSPECTION DUTIES.
THE UNIT RUNS ITS OWN TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR CUSTOMS OFFICERS TO ACQUIRE NAUTICAL EXPERTISE, AND IS CURRENTLY ORGANISING COURSES LEADING TO THE AWARD OF THIRD CLASS CERTIFICATE IN NAVIGATION AND ENGINEERING. DIVING TRAINING IS ALSO PROVIDED FOR OFFICERS WHO MAY BE REQUIRED TO SEARCH AND RETRIEVE CONTRABAND AND DANGEROUS DRUGS STORED UNDERWATER,
+ LIFE IN THE MARINE STRIKE AND SEARCH UNIT IS NEVER BORING EXCEPT FOR THE FEW WHO ARE SEASICK,+ SAID SENIOR CUSTOMS OFFICER, MR CHAN FUK-CHUEN, WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE UNIT SINCE ITS INCEPTION.
+ONE CAN ALWAYS EXPECT TO MEET NEW CHALLENGES AND GAIN USEFUL EXPERIENCE THROUGH THIS WORK WHICH COVERS ALMOST EVERY ASPECT OF CUSTOMS DUTIES, HE ADDED.
TO MEET THE INCREASING COMMITMENTS, THE UNIT IS NOW BEING MODERNISED UNDER A PROGRAMME TO COMPLETELY REPLACE ALL THE CUSTOMS LAUNCHES. BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR. IT WILL HAVE A NEW FLEET OF THREE HIGH-SPEED OFF-SHORE PATROL LAUNCHES AND THREE PERSONNEL CONVEYANCE VESSELS, ALL EQUIPPED WITH RADAR.
NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR AWARD SCHEME *****
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD IS INVITING LOCAL RESIDENTS, SCHOOLS, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, RESIDENTS ORGANISATIONS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO NOMINATE CANDIDATES FOR THE DISTRICT'S SOCIAL SERVICES AWARD SCHEME.
THE SCHEME IS AN ASSESSMENT OF THE WORK AND CONTRIBUTION BY PARTICIPANTS IN VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
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