XN000022-1981-11-07 — Page 6

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1981

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CUSTOMS' ROLE IN TRADE FACILITATIONS AND CONTROLS

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THE IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE IN FACILITATION OF TRADE WERE TODAY (SATURDAY) ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE HON R.H. LOBO, UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.

ADDRESSING THE PASSING-OUT PARADE OF 40 INSPECTORS AND 93 CUSTOMS OFFICERS AT THE TAI LAM CHUNG TRAINING SCHOOL, MR LOBO SAID THAT THE OPENING UP OF CHINA TO TRADE, AND THE INCREASINGLY LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE MOVING ACROSS THE HONG KONG BORDER, HAD PUT IMMENSE PRESSURE ON THE SERVICE.

+YOU HAVE TO UNDERTAKE A WIDE RANGE OF DUTIES, FROM COLLECTION OF DUTY TO SUCH TRADE FACILITATION AS THAT CONCERNED WITH ORIGIN CERTIFICATION AND LICENSING. AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE TO BEAR IN MIND THE NECESSITY NOT TO IMPOSE BURDENSOME HINDRANCES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS VITAL TRADING LINK. THE TWIN OBJECTIVES - CONTROL AND FACILITATION ARE OFTEN CONTRADICTORY, HE TOLD THE PASSING-OUT RECRUITS.

+THE PRESENT TALKS ON THE RENEWAL OF THE MULTI-FI BRE ARRANGEMENT ALSO POINT TO THE IMPORTANCE OF SOUND CONTROLS OVER EXPORTS.

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+THERE ARE THOSE IN HONG KONG FOR TUNATELY ONLY A FEW - WHO WOULD SEEK TO EVADE THE QUOTA ARRANGEMENTS THAT EXIST BETWEEN HONG KONG AND SEVERAL KEY MARKETS, AND IN SO DOING AFFECT THE TRADING REPUTATION OF HONG KONG AS A WHOLE.

+THIS DISREPUTABLE MINORITY CAN ULTIMATELY ONLY BE DISSUADED BY SOUND LAW AND EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT. I NOTE WITH SATISFACTION THE RESULTS ACHIEVED BY THE SERVICE, AND BY YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE TRADE CONTROLS DIVISION, IN BRINGING THE SELFISH TO BOOK, HE ADDED.

TURNING TO OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT, MR LOBO COMMENDED THE CUSTOMS SERVICE FOR THEIR SUCCESS IN THE SUPPRESSION OF NARCOTICS AND FOR THEIR CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE POLICE IN SUCH WORK WHENEVER COLLABORATION WAS APPROPRIATE. HE SAID: THE SUCCESSFUL WORKING OF THE JOINT INTELLIGENCE UNIT MANNED BY POLICE AND CUSTOMS OFFICERS AT KAI TAK IS AN EXAMPLE OF SUCH UNDERSTANDING AND COULD BE AN EXAMPLE TO OTHER ADMINISTRATIONS.

+ THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE HAS ALSO ENSURED HONG KONG HAS A GOOD NAME IN THE SUPPRESSION OF COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT. THIS FRAUD IS NO LONGER LIMITED TO MUSICAL CASSETTE TAPES AND BOOKS. THE SUCCESSFUL RAIDS CARRIED OUT BY THE COPYRIGHT DIVISION HAVE UNCOVERED PIRATE VIDEO TAPES AS WELL. ONCE AGAIN THE EFFICIENCY AND DETERMINATION SHOWN IN STAMPING OUT YET ANOTHER TYPE OF FRAUD, IS MOST COMMENDABLE.+

THE PASSING-OUT PARADE WAS THE LARGEST IN THE HISTORY OF THE SERVICE.

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