XN000022-1978-08-19 — Page 7

6.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 1978

TWO SENIOR CUSTOMS OFFICERS RETIRING

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THE ACTING ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR. WALTER NEIL, HAS PAID TRIBUTE TO THE DEDICATION AND HARD WORK OF TWO CUSTOMS SUPERINTENDENTS WHO ARE ABOUT TO RETIRE AFTER SERVING IN THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE FOR A COMBINED TOTAL OF ALMOST 62 YEARS.

THEY ARE MR. GRAHAM CROOKDAKE AND MR. WONG KAM-TO WHO BOTH JOINED THE SERVICE AS REVENUE OFFICERS IN 1948.

COMMENTING ON THEIR LONG AND DISTINGUISHED CAREERS, MR. NEIL SAID THAT BOTH OFFICERS HAD SERVED IN MOST BRANCHES OF THE SERVICE AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER, SUCCESSFULLY MEETING DEMANDS IMPOSED BY THE MANY CHANGES WHICH HAD OCCURRED.

+THEIR LOYALTY TO THE SERVICE AND THE HIGH STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE THEY MAINTAINED OVER THE YEARS EARNED THEM STEADY PROMOTION TO THE RANK OF SUPERINTENDENT AND PROVIDED A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW, MR. NEIL ADDED.

DURING A FAREWELL COCKTAIL PARTY ON AUGUST 14 AT THE SENIOR OFFICERS' MESS IN THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE HEADQUARTERS, MR. NEIL PRESENTED MR. CROOKDAKE AND MR. WONG WITH RETIREMENT GIFTS ON BEHALF OF THEIR COLLEAGUES AND WISHED THEM HEALTH AND HAPPINESS IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

ALTHOUGH BORN IN HONG KONG, MR. CROOKDAKE INTENDS TO SETTLE, WITH HIS WIFE LUCY AND SON ADAM, IN THE ENGLAND/ SCOTLAND BORDER AREA OF CARLISLE, CUMBERLAND. MR. WONG WILL REMAIN IN HONG KONG.

/T