XN000022-1983-08-18 — Page 9

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 1983

SIR PHILIP ADDED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DRAINAGE IN THE LOW-LYING SAI TAU VILLAGE WHICH IS KNOWN TO HAVE FLOODING PROBLEMS.

PART OF THE VILLAGE WILL BE CLEARED LATER THIS YEAR TO MAKE WAY FOR A PARK AND TO FACILITATE THE FUTURE WIDENING OF CARPENTER ROAD.

COMMENTING ON THE LOCATION OF THE KAI TAK AIRPORT, HE SAID THE PRESENT SITE MIGHT NOT BE THE MOST IDEAL ONE BUT THERE WAS NO PLAN TO REPROVISION THE AIRPORT IN NORTH LANTAU OR ANYWHERE ELSE FOR SOME TIME TO COME FOR A WHOLE VARIETY OF REASONS, ONE OF THEM BEING FINANCIAL.

+

CUSTOMS REORGANISATION EXPLAINED

*****

THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR DOUGLAS JORDAN TODAY (THURSDAY) EXPLAINED THE CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

ADDRESSING THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ZONTA CLUB OF THE NEW TERRITORIES TODAY, MR JORDAN SAID THAT HE WAS SPECIALLY APPOINTED FOR THE REORGANISATION OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT, WHICH WAS FORMERLY ONE OF THREE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS.

+REORGANISATION WAS URGENTLY REQUIRED NOT ONLY TO MEET THE COMMITMENTS OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE AT THE TIME OF MY ARRIVAL HERE BUT EQUALLY TO MEET WHAT WERE FORESEEN AS THE GROWING DEMANDS WHICH WOULD BE MADE UPON IT IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS,+ HE SAID.

THE FIRST STEP WAS TO CHANGE THE STRUCTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT.

AS A RESULT, FIELD OPERATIONS WERE REGIONALISED AND DAY- TO-DAY OPERATIONAL DIRECTION WAS LARGELY DEVOLVED TO THE REGIONAL COMMANDERS. +ENTIRELY NEW UNITS WERE CREATED WITHIN THE NEW REGIONS TO DEAL WITH SUCH MATTERS AS LESSER NARCOTICS OFFENCES, MISUSE OF DUTIABLE GOODS, AND TO COUNTER OFFENCES GENERALLY ALONG OUR CONVOLUTED COAST-LINE AND AMONGST OUR 200-ODD ISLANDS, + MR JORDAN SAID.

AS FOR THOSE LARGE UNITS WITHIN THE REGIONS SUCH AS THOSE AT THE KWAI CHUNG TERMINAL, THE HARBOUR AND THE AIRPORT, THEY WERE RESTRUCTURED FOR MORE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT AND TO DEAL WITH THE INCREASING TRAFFIC. AT EACH REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS, REGIONAL COMMANDERS WERE PROVIDED WITH SUITABLE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO ENABLE THEM TO FULFIL THEIR NEW RESPONSIBILITIES WITH EFFICIENCY.

THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO ENTIRELY REBUILT.

/+NEW STAFF