XN000022-1979-12-25 — Page 3

N

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1979

TOUGH JOB FOR SHIP SEARCHERS

*****

DOWN IN THE ENGINE ROOM OF AN OCEAN-GOING VESSEL, A TEAM OF SWEAT-DRENCHED CUSTOMS OFFICERS IS CRAWLING IN AND OUT OF A MAZE OF PIPES AND TANKS SEEMINGLY UNAWARE OF THE HEAT, GRIME AND OVERPOWER ING STENCH OF DIESEL FUME AND WASTE WATER IN THE BILGES.

THEY ARE EXAMINING EVERY INCH OF THE AREA IN THEIR SEARCH FOR SECRET COMPARTMENTS AND HIDDEN NOOKS AND CRANNIES USED TO CONCEAL DANGEROUS DRUGS OR OTHER CONTRABAND.

ANOTHER GROUP OF OFFICERS IS SEARCHING THE UPPER DECK, LIFE BOATS, BRIDGE HOUSING, CARGO BOOMS, WINCHES AND MASTHEADS, EXPOSED TO WHATEVER THE WHIM OF NATURE MAY BESTOW, CHILLING BREEZĖS, RAIN OR GALE FORCE WINDS.

AT THE SAME TIME A FURTHER TEAM OF OFFICERS CAN BE SEEN SCRAMBLING OVER THE CARGO IN THE SHIP'S HOLDS.

ALL THESE ACTIVITIES ARE PART OF A DAY'S WORK BY OFFICERS OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE'S HARBOUR DIVISION UNDER THE COMMAND OF SUPERINTENDENT MR. A. SANDERS. THE DIVISION IS MADE UP OF THREE SUB-DIVISIONS, THE HARBOUR, THE MARINE AND THE RECENTLY FORMED KWA! CHUNG SUB-DIVISIONS.

THE HARBOUR SUB-DIVISION UNDER THE COMMAND OF ASSISTANT SUPER INTENDENT MR. C.W. SZETO IS CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CUSTOMS CLEARANCE OF ALL CONVENTIONAL SHIPPING ARRIVING IN HONG KONG, A MASSIVE JOB WHEN ONE CONSIDERS THAT ABOUT 18 000 OCEAN-GOING SHIPS AND 72 000 RIVER VESSELS ENTER AND LEAVE HONG KONG'S HARBOUR EACH YEAR. THIS IS COMPOUNDED BY A FURTHER 18 000 LOCAL CRAFT INCLUDING FISHING VESSELS, CARGO BOATS, LIGHTERS, AND TOW BOATS WHICH USE OUR HARBOUR MORE FREQUENTLY.

+BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF SHIPS AND VESSELS ENTERING AND LEAVING PORT EVERY DAY IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO SEARCH EVERY ONE OF THEM,+ MR. SZETO SAID.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT SHIPS RECEIVE ONLY A MINIMUM OF CUSTOMS INTERFERENCE WITH THEIR NORMAL OPERATIONS, BUT AS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE SOME OF THEM ARE SELECTED FOR A THOROUGH AND EXHAUSTIVE CHECK.

+BEFORE SUCH A SELECTION IS MADE SPECIAL ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO BACKGROUND INFORMATION SUCH AS THE VOYAGE ITINERARY, NATURE OF CARGO CARRIED AND TO WHOM CONSIGNED, COMPOSITION OF THE CREW, AND ANY RECORD OF INVOLVEMENT IN SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES BOTH HERE AND OVERSEAS,+ MR. SZETO SAID.

+WE HAVE A SEPARATE FILE FOR EACH AND EVERY SHIP THAT ENTERS PORT AND THESE AT PRESENT TOTAL MORE THAN 7 600. EACH OF THESE FILES CONTAINS CLASSIFIED INFORMATION WHICH ASSISTS US IN PLANNING OUR METHODS OF OPERATION, HE SAID.

+ IF IT IS DECIDED THAT A SEARCH IS TO BE CONDUCTED IT WILL BE A THOROUGH AND EXHAUSTIVE ONE. IN SOME CASES, EVEN THE HULL BALLAST AND WATERTANKS ARE INSPECTED BY OUR DIVERS, HE ADDED.

THE DIVISION