XN000022-1978-05-20 — Page 7

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SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1978

CUSTOMS OFFICERS PASSING-OUT PARADE

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SUPER INTENDENT OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE K.T. WONG TODAY CALLED ON 60 NEW CUSTOMS OFFICERS TO EXERCISE THEIR AUTHORITY WITH +TOLERANCE, INTEGRITY AND WITH NO TRACE OF ARROGANCE.+

ADDRESSING THE GROUP AT THE PASSING-OUT PARADE HELD AT THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE TRAINING SCHOOL IN TAI LAM CHUNG, MR. WONG STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-DISCIPLINE AND SELF-RESPECT WHICH WOULD ENABLE THEM TO HANDLE SITUATIONS WITH TACT AND FIRMNESS.

HE NOTED THAT +BECAUSE OF YOUR AUTHORITY YOU MIGHT RECEIVE APPROACHES FROM THE CORRUPT AND DISHONEST OR EVEN THOSE SIMPLY LOOKING FOR AN EASY WAY OUT+.

+YOU MUST NEVER ERR. YOU CANNOT AFFORD ONE MISTAKE FOR WITHOUT THIS SELF-DISCIPLINE AND SELF-RESPECT, THE BADGES OF RANK AND STANDING ORDERS WILL HAVE LOST THEIR SIGNIFICANCE.+

MR. WONG REMINDED THE OFFICERS THAT THEY WERE PUBLIC SERVANTS AND THAT THEIR DUTY WAS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.

+WE MIGHT OFTEN SAY TO OURSELVES THAT WE WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND FORGET THAT THIS REALLY MEANS WE WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH WE LIVE.

+YOU SHOULD REMEMBER AT ALL TIMES THAT IT IS THE COMMUNITY WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO OUR SALARIES AND THE COMMUNITY FROM WHICH WE DERIVE CUR AUTHORITY, HE ADDED. MR. WONG HAS BEEN WITH THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE FOR 31 YEARS.

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