XN000022-1978-04-01 — Page 6

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 1978

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AN ADVICE FROM RETIRING SUPERINTENDENT

OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE

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SUPERINTENDENT OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE, MR. GRAHAM CROOKDAKE, TODAY CAUTIONED A GROUP OF 40 NEW CUSTOMS OFFICERS TO BE ON GUARD AGAINST ONE OF THE MAIN DANGERS THEY MIGHT COME ACROSS IN THE COURSE OF THEIR DUTIES - BRIBERY.

+YOUR CAREER AND YOUR FAMILIES' RESPECT FOR YOU WILL ABRUPTLY END SHOULD YOU ACCEPT SUCH OFFERS,+ MR. CROOKDAKE SAID AT A PASSING-OUT PARADE AT THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE TRAINING SCHOOL IN TAI LAM CHUNG.

MR. CROOKDAKE WILL BE RETIRING SOON AFTER 30 YEARS SERVICE WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

ADDRESSING THE GROUP, HE SAID: +ONE OF THE MAIN DANGERS YOU WILL NO DOUBT COME ACROSS AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER WILL BE THE OFFERING OF BRIBES BY UNSCRUPULOUS PERSONS IN AN ENDEAVOUR TO DIVERT YOU FROM YOUR DUTIES.

+I SINCERELY HOPE THAT NONE OF YOU WILL EVER COMPROMISE THE TRUST THAT HAS BEEN PLACED IN YOU AS CUSTOMS OFFICERS.

+ALWAYS REMEMBER THE CAREER YOU HAVE CHOSEN DEMANDS HARD WORK COURAGE, PRESENCE OF MIND, PERSEVERANCE, A COOL TEMPER AND, ABOVE ALL, HONESTY WHEN DEALING WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

+ THE REPUTATION OF THE SERVICE IS HELD IN HIGH REGARD AND IS RESPECTED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND YOU MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU ARE A PUBLIC SERVANT, HE SAID,

MR. CROOKDAKE POINTED OUT THAT THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE IS CHARGED WITH MANY IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES PRINCIPALLY THE COLLECTION AND PROTECTION OF REVENUE FROM DUTIABLE COMMODITIES AND THE PREVENTION OF THE ILLEGAL IMPORT OF NARCOTIC DRUGS AND OTHER CONTROLLED ITEMS.

HE SAID REVENUE FRØM THESE SOURCES FINANCES

ABOUT ONE-TENTH OF THE GOVERMENT 3 ANNUAL EXPENDITURE, WHICH IS QUITE A SUBSTANTIAL FIGURE.

+

THE FIGHT AGAINST NARCOTICS IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE NOT ONLY HERE BUT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AS DRUG ABUSE IS A SOCIAL EVIL. THAT ALL SELF-RESPECTING CITIZENS WOULD WISH TO SEE ERADICATED+.

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