XN000022-1981-06-14 — Page 2

SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 1981

MAJOR RE-ORGANISATION OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE

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TO COPE WITH ITS INCREASINGLY WIDE-RANGING RESPONSIBILITIES, AND TO PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE TO TRADE AND TO THE COMMUNITY GENERALLY, THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE OF THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT WILL BE REGIONALISED AS FROM TOMORROW (JUNE 15).

IN FUTURE THE SERVICE IN THE FIELD WILL BE DIRECTED ON A GEOGRAPHICAL BASIS, RATHER THAN BY THE PREVIOUS CLOSE CENTRAL DIRECTION.

EACH OF THE THREE REGIONS - HONG KONG ISLAND, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE TO A LARGE DEGREE AUTONOMOUS, ALTHOUGH UNDER THE OVERALL DIRECTION OF THE CENTRAL HEADQUARTERS. EACH REGIONAL COMMANDER WILL HAVE EVERY FEATURE OF THE SERVICE'S VARIOUS RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN HIS REGIONAL COMMAND.

THE OFFICES FOR THE THREE REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS ARE RUMSEY STREET FOR HONG KONG ISLAND, EMPIRE CENTRE FOR KOWLOON AND INITIALLY EMPIRE CENTRE (TO BE FOLLOWED BY A MOVE TO TSUEN WAN) FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS.

HONG KONG IS A FREE PORT RAISING DUTY UNDER ONLY FOUR REVENUE HEADS, BUT THE SERVICE IS INVOLVED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS WITH HONG KONG'S IMPORTS AND EXPORTS, RANGING FROM MAINTAINING THE LAW ON PROHIBITIONS TO FACILITATING TRADE WITH HONG KONG'S OVERSEAS TRADING PARTNERS. SUCH WORK WILL MAKE HEAVY DEMANDS IN EACH OF THE THREE REGIONS.

SIMILARLY WORK AT INLAND PREMISES BONDED WAREHOUSES DISTILLERIES, TOBACCO FACTORIES AND LICENSED DEALERS IN REVENUE GOODS - HAS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY AND IS DISTRIBUTED OVER ALL THE REGIONS. THE RECENT OPENING OF A SECOND MAJOR BREWERY HAS PLACED A FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY ON THE SERVICE.

TO IMPLEMENT AND CO-ORDINATE THE WORK IN THE REGIONS, THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE SERVICE HAS BEEN REORGANISED. VARIOUS INNOVATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, INCLUDING A UNIT DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN UP-TO-DATE AND UNIFORM PROCEDURES AS WELL AS TO KEEP SENIOR MANAGEMENT AWARE OF THE THINKING AND FEELINGS OF OFFICERS AT ALL LEVELS IN THE FIELD.

A NEW PERSONNEL UNIT WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR TRAINING, CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND EVERY ASPECT OF THE STAFF'S WELFARE HAS ALSO BEEN INTRODUCED.

THE CENTRAL CUSTOMS INVESTIGATION BUREAU HAS BEEN REORGANISED AND EXPANDED, NOT ONLY TO IMPROVE ITS ANTI-NARCOTICS AND ANTI-COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT WORK - FOR WHICH IT IS ALREADY WELL KNOWN BUT ALSO TO DEAL WITH OTHER VIOLATIONS DAMAGING THE ECONOMY OR TRADING INTEGRITY OF HONG KONG. ALTHOUGH CENTRALLY LOCATED, ITS EYES AND EARS+ IN THE FIELD WILL BE NEW ROVING ENFORCEMENT UNITS LOCATED IN EACH REGION.

THE NECESSITY FOR AN ENTIRELY NEW ORGANISATION BECAME APPARENT WITH THE GROWTH OF HONG KONG, ITS INCREASING TRADE AND CHANGING TRADING PATTERNS. NOT LEAST AMONGST THESE IS THE INCREASING TRADE AND TRAFFIC WITH CHINA, BOTH ACROSS THE LAND BOUNDARY AND BY SEA AND AIR.

/THE SERVICE