XN000022-1979-12-15 — Page 3

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1979

CUSTOMS SERVICE STEPS UP

CHECKS ON LIQUOR SHOPS

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WITH THE APPROACH OF THE FESTIVE SEASON, THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE HAS STEPPED UP ITS ROUTINE INSPECTIONS ON LICENSED LIQUOR DEALERS TO PREVENT THE SALE OF ADULTERATED LIQUOR.

ACCORDING TO PAST EXPERIENCE, ADULTERATED LIQUOR IS SOLD MORE ACTIVELY DURING THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR PERIOD, SPOKESMAN FOR THE SERVICE SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

EXCISE OFFICERS SEIZED NEARLY 100 QUART-BOTTLES OF ADULTERATED BRANDY BEFORE CHRISTMAS LAST YEAR AND ANOTHER 50 QUART-BOTTLES BEFORE THE LAST LUNAR NEW YEAR, HE SAID.

ALTHOUGH CONSTANT CHECKS ARE MADE, THE PUBLIC SHOULD STILL BE ON THE ALERT AND BUY LIQUOR ONLY FROM REPUTABLE DEALERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE EXPLAINED THAT ILLICIT MANUFACTURERS USUALLY EMPLOY WOMEN TO SELL ADULTERATED LIQUOR AT CUT PRICES TO PEOPLE IN CROWDED HOUSING ESTATES ON THE PRETEXT THAT THE LIQUOR IS OBTAINED DUTY-FREE FROM SEAMEN RETURNING TO HONG KONG OR AT STAFF PRICE FROM THE SOLE AGENTS,

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD ALSO BE ON GUARD AGAINST IRRESPONSIBLE WINE SHOP AND STORE OPERATORS WHO MAY TRY TO MAKE A QUICK PROFIT THROUGH SELLING ADULTERATED LIQUOR.

PEOPLE WHO ARE OFFERED LIQUOR AT UNREASONABLY LOW PRICE OR HAVE ANY DOUBT ON THE LIQUOR THEY BOUGHT, ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE ON 5-456182 EXTENSION 200 OR 3-685662 EXTENSION 511, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

NEW TRACK MAINTENANCE MACHINE FOR KCR

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THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY HAS RECENTLY BROUGHT INTO USE A $1.5 MILLION TAMPING MACHINE TO HELP MAINTAIN TRACKS TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARD TO COPE WITH FASTER AND MORE FREQUENT TRAIN SERVICES.

MANUFACTURED IN AUSTRIA, THE +TAMPER+ CAN ACCOMPLISH IN FOUR HOURS THE WORK WHICH NORMALLY TAKES 24 MEN TWO DAYS TO COMPLETE. THE HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED MACHINE IS ALSO EQUIPPED WITH A SPECIAL SOUND- PROOF DEVICE.

+WITH TRAFFIC GETTING INCREASINGLY HEAVIER, PARTICULARLY AS THE ENTIRE LINE IS TO BE ELECTRIFIED BY THE END OF 1982, IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CARRY OUT TRACK MAINTENANCE BY TRADITIONAL WORK-GANG METHODS, SAID PERMANENT WAY ENGINEER OF KCR, MR. MICHAEL ELVY.

THE MACHINE