XN000022-1979-05-05 — Page 4

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 1979

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CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE PLAYING MORE ACTIVE ANTI-DRUGS ROLE

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THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE NOW PLAYS A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN ANTI-NARCOTICS OPERATIONS, BOTH LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, APART FROM ITS TRADITIONAL ROLE IN COLLECTING, AND PROTECTING, REVENUE FROM DUTIABLE COMMODITIES AND OTHER VARIED

RESPONSIBILITIES.

MR. GEORGE WELSBY, SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SERVICE, SAID THIS WHEN TAKING THE SALUTE AT THE PASSING-OUT PARADE OF 13 PROBATIONARY INSPECTORS OF THE SERVICE THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING.

THE INSPECTORS HAVE JUST COMPLETED A SIX-MONTH INDUCTION TRAINING COURSE AT THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE TRAINING SCHOOL IN TÀI LÀM CHUNG.

MR. WELSBY, WHO RETIRES IN JULY AFTER NEARLY 30 YEARS' SERVICE, TOLD THE GRADUATES THAT THE SERVICE HAD SEEN MANY CHANGES DURING THE PAST 30 YEARS.

WHEN HE JOINED IN 1950 ITS STRENGTH WAS LESS THAN 300, BUT IT HAS NOW GROWN TO NEARLY 1,500.

THE WORK OF THE SERVICE HAS ALSO INCREASED BOTH IN COMPLEXITY AND VARIETY, HE SAID.

+THIS EXPLAINS WHY, DURING THE PAST SIX MONTHS, YOUR TRAINING HAS BEEN STRENUOUS AND COMPREHENSIVE IN ORDER TO ARM YOU WITH THE BASIC SKILLS WHICH WILL ENABLE YOU TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES OF THE SERVICE.

+YOUR DUTIES WILL DEMAND PATIENCE, HARD WORK, COURAGE, PERSEVERANCE AND IMAGINATION, HE SAID.

+THEY WILL, AT TIMES, BE HAZARDOUS AND PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTING, THEY WILL BRING YOU INTO DAILY CONTACT WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, SOME OF WHOM WILL TRY TO PERSUADE YOU FROM THE STRICT PATH OF DUTY.

+DON'T SUCCUMB, BUT REMEMBER YOUR TRAINING HERE AND CARRY OUT YOUR DUTIES WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR. THE REPUTATION OF THIS SERVICE IS HELD IN HIGH REGARD, AND YOU MUST EXERT EVERY EFFORT TO UPHOLD ITS GOOD NAME,+ MR. WELSBY ADDED.

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