XN000022-1984-04-26 — Page 8

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1984

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THE HEAVY INCREASES IN LIQUOR AND TOBACCO DUTIES IMPOSED BY THE 1983 BUDGET AND THE INTRODUCTION OF AD VALOREM LIQUOR DUTIES THIS YEAR HAD ALTERED THE ROLE OF CUSTOMS IN THIS FIELD, HE POINTED OUT.

+NOT ONLY HAS OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE OVERALL REVENUE BEEN INCREASED TO APPROXIMATELY 15 PER CENT OF ITS TOTAL BUT CONTROL AND ENFORCEMENT HAVE ASSUMED A NEW IMPORTANCE, HE ADDED.

BEFORE THE 1982 DUTY INCREASES, EVASION OF DUTY HAD BEEN RARE, WHILE THE INCREASES HAD LED TO GREATER INDUCEMENT TO SMUGGLE OR EVADE CONTROLS, HE SAID.

+ BUT I AM HAPPY TO RECORD THAT OUR COUNTER-MEASURES HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN MEETING THE PROBLEM, + MR JORDAN ADDED.

APART FROM ITS REVENUE RESPONSIBILITIES, THE HONG KONG CUSTOMS HAS WIDE FUNCTIONS UNDER SOME 20 ORDINANCES.

MOST OF THEM ARE TO DO WITH PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS ON SPECIFIC IMPORTS AND EXPORTS WHICH HONG KONG MAINTAINS EITHER FOR ITS OWN BENEFIT TO SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ITS POPULATION OR IN SUPPORT OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS WITH ITS TRADING PARTNERS.

+FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF LAW-ABIDING DECENT HONG KONG BUSINESSMEN WE PERFORM OUR WORK IN THIS CONNECTION IN SUCH A WAY AS TO FACILITATE RATHER THAN HINDER HONG KONG'S TRADE. BASICALLY THE RESTRICTIONS ARE NOT OF HONG KONG'S MAKING.

+ IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HONG KONG CUSTOMS TO ENSURE THEY ARE APPLIED EFFECTIVELY BUT THAT THE INCIDENCE OF THESE UNAVOIDABLE CONTROLS ENSURES COMPLIANCE WITH LEGAL REQUIREMENTS RATHER THAN UNNECESSARY INTERFERENCE WITH TRADE, MR JORDAN CONCLUDED.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

VEHICLE SMOKE CONTROL DRIVE ****

A MONTH-LONG VEHICLE SMOKE CONTROL CAMPAIGN ORGANISED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE, WILL BE LAUNCHED ON MAY 1 (TUESDAY).

DURING THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD, SPOT CHECKS OF VEHICLES EMITTING EXCESSIVE SMOKE WILL BE STEPPED UP BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF ADDITIONAL +SMOKEMETER+ TEAMS.

APART FROM BEING SERVED WITH FIXED PENALTY TICKETS, VEHICLE OWNERS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO SEND THEIR VEHICLES FOR CHECKS.