XN000022-1977-06-01 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 1977

CHANGE OF NAME FOR PREVENTIVE SERVICE PROPOSED

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THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE MAY BE RENAMED CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE.

THIS IS ONE OF SEVERAL CHANGES PROPOSED IN THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1977 WHICH RECEIVED ITS SECOND READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, MR. BILL DORWARD, IN INTRODUCING THE BILL, EMPHASISED THAT THE CHANGE OF NAME IN NO WAY IMPLIED ANY CHANGE IN BASIC GOVERNMENT POLICY TO PRESERVE HONG KONG AS A FREE PORT IN THE TRUE MEANING OF THE TERM.

THE RATHER ANTIQUATED TERM PREVENTIVE SERVICE, MR. DORWARD EXPLAINED, WAS FIRST USED TO DESCRIBE THE COASTGUARD IN ENGLAND IN THE DAYS WHEN SMUGGLING WAS RESPECTABLE.

+ IT WAS INTRODUCED HERE VERY LARGELY BECAUSE IT WAS FELT BY SOME AT THE TIME THAT TO REFER TO A CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE, WHICH IN EFFECT IS WHAT WE HAVE HAD FOR MANY YEARS, WOULD NOT BE UNDERSTOOD IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT HONG KONG WAS A FREE PORT,+ HE SAID.

+EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN, HOWEVER, THAT FAR FROM AVOIDING MISUNDERSTANDING THE USE OF THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE TITLE HAS TENDED TO CAUSE IT, HE SAID.

MR. DORWARD ADDED: +FOR EXAMPLE, MUCH EMPHASIS HAS BEEN LAID RECENTLY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF LINKS WITH OVERSEAS CUSTOMS SERVICES, PARTICULARLY IN THE FIELD OF ANTI-NARCOTICS WORK AND IT HAS BEEN NECESSARY REPEATEDLY TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THE NATURE OF THE SERVICE.

+AT POINTS OF ENTRY WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FORCED TO USE THE TERM CUSTOMS, FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVELLERS WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND ANY OTHER TERM. INDEED THE NAME 'PREVENTIVE SERVICE' HAS EVEN BEEN CONFUSED WITH FAMILY PLANNING+, HE SAID.

MR. DORWARD EXPLAINED THAT THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE BILL WAS TO BRING THE INSPECTORATE OF THE SERVICE UNDER THE DISCIPLINARY CONTROL OF THE COMMISSIONER RATHER THAN HAVING TO DEAL WITH THEM UNDER THE PROCEDURES LAID DOWN IN COLONIAL REGULATIONS.

THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE ORDINANCE WAS FIRST ENACTED IN 1963 AND SEVERAL OF ITS PROVISIONS WERE NOW OUT OF DATE, HE SAID, PARTICULARLY THOSE RELATING TO DISCIPLINARY AND CRIMINAL OFFENCES COMMITTED BY MEMBERS OF THE SERVICE.

THE BILL SEEKS TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION BY REPLACING PART OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE WITH NEW DISCIPLINARY PROVISIONS WHICH WILL BRING THE ORDINANCE INTO LINE WITH SIMILAR LEGISLATION RECENTLY ENACTED IN RESPECT OF OTHER DISCIPLINED SERVICES.

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