CO129-622-7 Department of Commerce and Industry- reorganisation and Annual Report 4-4-1949 - 20-2-1950 — Page 22

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probable that the drug is manufactured in North China, which was the centre of the pre-war Japanese trade, and smuggled from there down to Hong Kong.

25. There were 83 heroin cases, and 53,733 pills were seized during the year, as against 13 cases and 5,570 pills seized during the previous year.

26.

V-Legislation.

The following are the chief legislative enactments affecting the Department, which were passed during the year:

(i) Smuggling into China (Control) Ordinance, 1948, which gave effect to the Sino-British Customs Agreement of January, 1948.

(i) An increase as from 6th January, 1949, in the duty payable on tobacco, to $6.00 per pound on cigarettes of non-Empire origin and manufacture, and $4.70 per pound in the case of cigarettes of Empire origin and manufacture.

(ii) An order, under Section 3 of the Importation and Exportation Ordinance, 1915, prohibiting the import into the Colony of any plant originating within the American Tropics without a licence from the Director of Commerce & Industry.

(iv) The Trade Commissioner's Privileges Ordinance, 1948. which allows to Trade Commissioners the same privileges as are granted to accredited Consular officials in respect to obtaining dutiable com- modities duty-free.

(v) The Diplomatic Privileges Ordinance, 1948.

VI-Certificate of Origin.

27. The number of Certificates of Origin issued during the year was 10,812, whilst 9,511 Imperial Preference Certificates were issued (Table XVII). The bulk of the certificates issued were with regard to textiles, flashlights, rubber shoes and enamelware, in the order given.

VII Statistical Graphs.

28. Graphs showing the volume of imports and exports, month by month, and moving on a three monthly average-together with graphs showing a comparison in the volume of trade for the previous year, are appended to this report. These graphs have been supplied by the Government Statistician.

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TABLE I.

Statement of Expenditure for the Period from 1st April, 1948 to 31st March, 1949.

Personal Emoluments

Other Charges :-

Advertising

Cleaning of Office

Fuel, Light & Power

Incidental Expenses

$

944,932.49

1,688.65

824.52

11,885.30

2,939.13

Laboratory Stores

5,107.05

Printing of Liquor Labels .....

7,350.00

Printing of Trade Returns

4,000.00

Publications

422.56

1,741.27

Travelling Expenses

6,473.41

Uniforms

36,935.40

Upkeep of Vehicles

13,351.68

92,718.97

1,037,651.46

Rent of Quarters

18th July, 1949.

K. KEEN,

Acting Director of Commerce & Industry.

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