WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1988
21
CONTROL MEASURES ON BUSINESSES INVOLVING ILLEGAL GOODS ADEQUATE
THE MEASURES TO CONTROL BUSINESSES DEALING HABITUALLY IN SMUGGLED, COUNTERFEIT OR PORNOGRAPHIC GOODS ARE GENERALLY ADEQUATE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR BARNES GOODS
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HELMUT SOHMEN, SAID OFFENCES INVOLVING SMUGGLED, COUNTERFEIT OR PORNOGRAPHIC WERE DEALT WITH UNDER THE IMPORT AND EXPORT ORDINANCE, THE TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ORDINANCE, THE COPYRIGHT ORDINANCE AND THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES ORDINANCE.
HE POINTED OUT THAT PENALTIES FOR THESE OFFENCES WERE REVIEWED
REGULARLY.
"DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE OFFENCE AND THE GOODS INVOLVED, EITHER THE POLICE OR THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT TAKE ACTION.
"ANY SUCH ACTION 1S USUALLY DIRECTED AGAINST THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED RATHER THAN AGAINST A BUSINESS."
THEREFORE, MR BARNES SAID, HE WAS NOT SURE THAT THE REVOCATION OF A BUSINESS REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE WOULD BE AN EFFECTIVE MEASURE IN THIS CONTEXT.
HE SAID: "THE REQUIREMENT TO HOLD A BUSINESS REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE IS TO ENSURE THAT THE INLAND REVENUE HAS A RECORD OF ALL BUSINESSES FOR TAXATION PURPOSES.
AND
"IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE REVOCATION OF BUSINESS REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES WOULD PREVENT SUCH BUSINESSES CARRYING ON ILLEGALLY,
COURSE THERE WOULD BE NOTHING TO PREVENT THE PRINCIPAL RE-REGISTERING UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME.
OF
"I FEAR THAT THE EFFECT WOULD BE A WEAKENING OF OUR REVENUE CONTROL WITHOUT A SIGNIFICANT STRENGTHENING OF OUR ABILITY TO CONTROL BUSINESSES DEALING IN SMUGGLED, COUNTERFEIT OR PORNOGRAPHIC GOODS.
MR BARNES SAID HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO CONSIDER ANY FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
INVOLVED
"I HAVE ASKED THE DEPARTMENTS CONSIDER WHETHER FURTHER MEASURES ARE NECESSARY.
"
SUGGESTIONS
WITH THIS
MATTER
ΤΟ
"AND JN THE LIGHT OF THEIR RESPONSES, I SHALL CONSIDER REFERRING THE MATTER TO THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, TOGETHER OTHER SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS.'
WITH
ANY
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