WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1992
23
FORFEITURE OF SEIZED GOODS TO BE STREAMLINED
THE PROCEDURES
FOR
THE
A BILL THAT AIMS TO STREAMLINE FORFEITURE OF SEIZED GOODS WILL BE GAZETTED ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 13).
"THE
WILL
IN
SPOKESMAN
IMPORT AND EXPORT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992, IF PASSED, AMELIORATE THE PROBLEMS FACED BY THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT THE
A GOVERNMENT STORAGE AND DISPOSAL OF SEIZED ARTICLES,' SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HOWEVER,
**
NOT HE STRESSED THAT THE AMENDMENTS WOULD THE PRINCIPLE OF FAIRNESS TO PARTIES CONCERNED,
UNDERMINE
ILLICIT TRADE AND
OUT THAT OWING TO INCREASE IN HE POINTED SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES IN RECENT YEARS, THE QUANTITY OF GOODS SEIZED AND DETAINED HAD INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.
"SINCE 1988 THE SPACE REQUIRED FOR STORING SEIZED ARTICLES INCREASED FIVE TIMES AND ADDITIONAL STORAGE COSTS HAVE BEEN INCURRED.
DEPARTMENT, HAS POSED AN INCREASING BURDEN ON THE
HAS
"
THE
"THIS SPOKESMAN SAID.
"AMENDMENTS ARE PROPOSED TO ENABLE THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE TO DISPOSE OF THOSE SEIZED ARTICLES WHICH ARE PERISHABLE OR DETERIORATING IN NATURE OR DIFFICULT TO STORE, PRIOR TO CONCLUSION OF ANY FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS SUBJECT TO ADEQUATE CHECKS AND HE SAID.
BALANCES,"
AS FOR THE SERVING OF NOTICES OF SEIZURE. AT PRESENT COMMISSIONER IS OBLIGED TO SERVE NOTICES ON ALL PARTIES WHO APPEAR HIM TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEIZED GOODS.
THE
TO
"THERE ARE HOWEVER DIFFICULTIES IN SERVING NOTICES OF AND COURT SUMMONSES IF THE OFFENDERS ARE NOT RESIDENTS OF HONG THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
SEIZURE KONG,
11
AMENDMENTS ARE
THE OF
THE
INTRODUCED ΤΟ STIPULATE CLEARLY CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE COMMISSIONER NEEDS TO SERVE A NOTICE
CATEGORIES SEIZURE TO THE OWNER, AND AT THE SAME TIME, TO BROADEN THE OF PERSONS
MAKE A CLAIM TO THE WHO
ΤΟ AND COMMISSIONER MAGISTRATE IN A FORFEITURE HEARING.
CAN
"THIS WOULD ALLOW
COMMISSIONER SPOKESMAN SAID.
WITHOUT
MORE EFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCES COMPROMISING THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUITY,"
BY
THE
THE
THE ON
FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS, HE NOTED THAT
AT
PRESENT
AN
AVERAGE OF ABOUT 12 MONTHS WAS REQUIRED TO CONCLUDE CRIMINAL FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS FROM THE POINT OF SEIZURE.
AND
**THE
MONTHS
AMENDMENTS SEEK TO SHORTEN THE PROCEEDINGS BY SIX WHERE THE CLAIMANT OF THE SEIZED GOODS IS ALSO THE DEFENDANT.
"THIS WOULD HELP ECONOMISE THE USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES AND ADDRESS THE STORAGE PROBLEM, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"I
/SEPARATELY, THE