XN000022-1984-04-29 — Page 4

SUNDAY, APRIL 29, 1984

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INSPECTIONS MAKE LIFE TOUGH FOR SMUGGLERS

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STRICT CARGO INSPECTIONS AND STRINGENT NEW LEGISLATION ARE MAKING LIFE TOUGH FOR DRUG SMUGGLERS.

LAST YEAR THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT EXAMINED MORE THAN ONE MILLION AIR CARGO PACKAGES AND A SIMILAR NUMBER OF SEA- BORNE ITEMS.

LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN JANUARY 1983, ENABLES LEGAL ACTION TO BE TAKEN AGAINST THE OWNERS OF SHIPS INVOLVED IN THE SMUGGLING OF NARCOTICS.

DRUG SMUGGLERS OBVIOUSLY GOT THE MESSAGE, AND LAST YEAR ONLY SMALL QUANTITIES OF DANGEROUS DRUGS WERE DISCOVERED IN TWO AIR CARGO CONSIGNMENTS AND NONE IN SEA CARGO.

'ACTION IS TAKEN SELECTIVELY TO INSPECT THE CARGO OF INCOMING VESSELS, OTHER THAN THOSE BERTHED AT THE KWAI CHUNG CONTAINER TERMINAL, ACCORDING TO MR DUDLEY LEONARD SHAW, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SEA CARGO EXAMINATION DIVISION. CONTAINER GOODS AT THE CONTAINER TERMINAL ARE INSPECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S CONTAINER CARGO EXAMINATION DIVISION.

'CARGO EXAMINATIONS ARE ALSO CARRIED OUT ON MACAU TRADING VESSELS AND CHINA COASTAL VESSELS AT VARIOUS CARGO HANDLING BASINS ON HONG KONG ISLAND," HE SAID.

ON THE OTHER HAND, GOODS COMING IN BY PASSENGER FLIGHTS AND AIR FREIGHTERS ARE EXAMINED BY THE AIR CARGO EXAMINATION DIVISION.

'AS HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS THE ONLY ENTRANCE BY AIR INTO HONG KONG, TIGHT CONTROL CAN BE EXERCISED OVER AIR CARGO, SAID MR YUEN KING-TONG, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DIVISION. 'AS A RESULT, FEWER PEOPLE WILL TAKE THE RISK OF SMUGGLING IN DANGEROUS DRUGS BY AIR."

THOUGH HONG KONG IS A FREE PORT, CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS HAVE TO BE IMPOSED TO PROTECT PUBLIC INTERESTS AND TO COMPLY WITH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS.

NARCOTICS ARE AMONG PROHIBITED IMPORTS AND DETECTION OF ILLICIT DRUGS IS THE PRINCIPAL TASK OF THE SEA AND AIR CARGO EXAMINATION DIVISIONS.

OFFICERS ARE ON THE ALERT PARTICULARLY FOR AIR AND SEA CARGO FROM SUSPECT PORTS PLACES WHICH ARE KNOWN DRUG PRODUCERS OR EXPORTERS.

BESIDES NARCOTICS, THEY ALSO WATCH OUT FOR ITEMS SUCH AS FIREARMS, DUTIABLE COMMODITIES, ACETYLATING SUBSTANCES, COUNTERFEIT GOODS AND UNMANIFESTED CARGO.

/THEIR OPERATIONS