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TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1992
"A NEW SMUGGLING TREND IN ONE COUNTRY COULD FOR EXAMPLE BE RAPIDLY INTRODUCED IN ANOTHER AND IT IS THEREFORE ESSENTIAL THAT DETAILS ARE EXCHANGED BETWEEN ADMINISTRATIONS AS SOON AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.
"
MR OXLEY SAID FORTUNATELY MODERN TECHNOLOGY WAS BEGINNING TO
BE OF GREAT ASSISTANCE ON THE OTHER HAND.
"ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE IS BEING USED INCREASINGLY AND I CAN FORESEE IN THE RELATIVELY NEAR FUTURE, A TIME WHEN PAPERLESS TRADING WILL BECOME THE RULE RATHER THAN THE EXCEPTION.
"IN ORDER TO REGULATE SUCH TRADING, IT IS OF COURSE NECESSARY FOR CUSTOMS TO REMAIN ABREAST OF, IF NOT AHEAD OF, MODERN TRENDS AND TO FAMILIARISE THEMSELVES WITH ALL MODERN TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS.
"THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE TREND OF THE FUTURE AND WILL EASE THE PROCEDURAL BURDEN ON BOTH TRADES AND CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICES.'
SIGNIFICANT EXCHANGE OF
ON SMUGGLING, MR OXLEY SAID ONE OF THE DEVELOPMENTS OCCURRED WAS THE IMPROVED CO-OPERATION AND INFORMATION BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINESE CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATIONS.
"IN ADDITION, A NUMBER OF LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE WITHIN HONG KONG TO FACILITATE THE CONTROL OF SMUGGLING.
"THESE INCLUDE THE REQUIREMENT TO POSSESS A CARRIAGE LICENCE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF CONSUMER GOODS IN SMALL VESSELS WITHIN HONG KONG WATERS AND CONTROLS ON CONSTRUCTION AND USE OF SPEEDBOATS.
THE
"AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL ANTI-SMUGGLING TASK FORCE HAS ALSO BEEN ESTABLISHED IN WHICH MY OFFICERS WORK ALONGSIDE WITH POLICE OFFICERS AND PERSONNEL OF THE ROYAL NAVY."
MR OXLEY HOWEVER CITED TWO BASIC PROBLEMS WHICH "NEITHER THE ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES NOR THE PASSAGE OF NEW LEGISLATION COULD ELIMINATE COMPLETELY",
"THESE ARE HONG KONG'S LONG AND CONVOLUTED COASTLINE AND THE SHEER VOLUME OF LEGITIMATE TRAFFIC, WHICH CAN UNFORTUNATELY ALSO CONCEAL ILLEGITIMATE TRAFFIC, BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA.
"THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE THESE IS BY THE IMPROVED EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT MUCH PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN THIS DIRECTION, MR OXLEY SAID.
++
FINALLY, HE SAID: "I WOULD LIKE YOU TO REMEMBER THE COMPLEX AND HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED SYSTEM OF INTERNATIONAL LIAISON WHICH ASSISTS HONG KONG CUSTOMS
EXCISE TO OPERATE EFFECTIVELY AND WHICH HELPS TO ENSURE THAT TRAVEL AND COMMERCE ALIKE REMAIN PROPERLY REGULATED WITHOUT UNDUE DELAY.
AND
"IT ALSO FACILITATES THE GROWING PROSPERITY OF AN INCREASINGLY CLOSELY KNIT GLOBAL ECONOMY."
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