XN000022-1984-03-24 — Page 3

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1984

GOOD CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR CUSTOMS AND EXCISE STAFF

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THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR DOUGLAS JORDAN TODAY (SATURDAY) TOLD MEMBERS OF THE SERVICE THAT WITH THE MAJOR RE-ORGANISATION IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, THEY NOW HAD GOOD CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.

HE WAS ADDRESSING A PASSING-OUT PARADE OF 27 INSPECTORS AND 71 CUSTOMS OFFICERS AT THE SERVICE'S TRAINING SCHOOL IN TAI LAM CHUNG BEFORE HIS RETIREMENT IN MAY.

+MEMBERS OF THE CUSTOMS OFFICER GRADE NOW HAVE VERY MUCH MORE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE THROUGH THEIR OWN RANKS UP TO CHIEF CUSTOMS OFFICERS. BUT MORE THAN THIS, THERE ARE MUCH BETTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE INSPECTORATE, + HE SAID.

AS AN EXAMPLE, HE POINTED OUT THAT AMONG THE INSPECTORS AT THE PARADE WERE TWO LADIES WHO HAD BEEN FORMER MEMBERS OF THE CUSTOMS OFFICER GRADE.

*FOR THE INSPECTORS LIKEWISE, MR JORDAN SAID, THE PROMOTION PYRAMID HAS SUBSTANTIALLY WIDENED AND PROSPECTS GREATLY INCREASED RIGHT UP TO THE MOST SENIOR LEVELS. IN THE COMING MONTHS WE HOPE TO SEE THE TOP OF THE PYRAMID WIDENED AND EXTENDED EVEN FURTHER BY THE CREATION OF THE THIRD ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER POST.+

BUT HE ADDED THAT PROMOTION WAS ONLY PART OF WHAT MADE FOR

JOB SATISFACTION.

+ IN THE CAREER YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE SPAN OF YOUR WORK IS VERY WIDE. THIS MAKES FOR VARIETY. IT WILL SUSTAIN YOUR INTEREST AND GIVE YOU GREAT SATISFACTION, HE TOLD THE RECRUITS.

SPEAKING ON THE INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION GIVEN TO THE HONG KONG CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE, MR JORDAN ASKED THE NEW RECRUITS TO UPHOLD THE SERVICE'S REPUTATION.

+A SUCCESSFUL CUSTOMS SERVICE MUST BE THOROUGHLY PROFESSIONAL FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. OTHERWISE IT BECOMES JUST ANOTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT LOSING ITS UNIQUE IDENTITY AND WITH IT, ITS ABILITY TO MEET THE SPECIAL DEMANDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE VARIOUS PARTICULAR RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CUSTOMS SERVICE, + HE SAID.

+THE REPUTATION OF A SERVICE ALSO RESTS ON ITS DISCIPLINE. WE ARE A SERVICE DISCIPLINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE WHICH AMONG OTHER THINGS GOVERNS OUR BEHAVIOUR,

+BUT THE BEST FORM OF DISCIPLINE IS MAINTAINED BY LOYALT? AND RESPECT FOR THE SERVICE AND FOR ONE ANOTHER AND NOT BY THE LAW ALONE.

+1 ASK YOU TO REMEMBER ALL THESE POINTS IN WHAT I REGARD AS THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION YOU MUST MAKE TO THE REPUTATION AND PROFESSIONALISM OF THE SERVICE,+ MR JORDAN SAID.