XN000022-1989-05-24 — Page 25

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1989

23

CUSTOMS FACES CHALLENGES IN THE 1990'S

CHANGES

THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE TO UNDERGO IN MEETING THE NEW CONDITIONS AND CHALLENGES THAT IT WILL FACE IN THE 1990'S. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR K.S. TONG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

ΤΟ COPE

THE CHANGES WOULD BE NECESSARY IF THE DEPARTMENT WERE WITH AN INCREASE IN WORKLOAD, AS WELL AS WITH THE ACTIVITIES OF WELL-ORGANISED CRIME RINGS, MR TONG SAID IN A LUNCH ADDRESS TO THE LIONS CLUB OF VICTORIA.

"IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS POSSIBLE PREDICAMENT, AND TO TAKE FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS IN CUSTOMS RESPONSIBILITIES INTO FULL ACCOUNT, THE DEPARTMENT HAS TO INITIATE NECESSARY REFORMS NOW." HE SAID.

MR TONG SAID THE DEPARTMENT WOULD FIRST LOOK INTO THE MATTER OF FULL UTILISATION OF ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND FUTURE ALLOCATIONS TO MEET ITS NEEDS IN THE 1990'S.

REGARDING OTHER ASPECTS, HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT WOULD PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE DUTIABLE COMMODITIES ORDINANCE, SEEKING TO WAIVE LICENSING CONTROLS ON RETAIL SALES OF DUTY-PAID GOODS.

THESE AMENDMENTS WOULD ALSO SEEK TO WAIVE LICENSING AND PERMIT CONTROLS ON THE IMPORT, EXPORT AND RE-EXPORT OF GOODS CONTAINING ALCOHOL, METHYL ALCOHOL OR HYDROCARBON OIL AS AN INGREDIENT BUT ON WHICH NO DUTY WAS PAYABLE.

"IN DOING SO, WE WOULD ADHERE TO THE PRINCIPLE OF PROMOTING TRADE MOVEMENTS ON THE ONE HAND AND EXERCISING NECESSARY CONTROLS ON THE OTHER, HE SAID.

C

MR TONG SAID THE DEPARTMENT WOULD ALSO CARRY OUT A COMPREHENSIVE UPDATING OF ITS DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM SO

TO KEEP PACE WITH ADVANCES MADE IN ELECTRONIC DATA COMMUNICATION NETWORKS, AND THUS ENHANCE EFFICIENCY.

MANAGEMENT POLICIES RELATING TO DAILY LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION WOULD BE REVIEWED AND THE DEPARTMENT WOULD SEEK ΤΟ ESTABLISH A COMPREHENSIVE CUSTOMS INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM.

"THE OBJECTIVE IS TO ENSURE MORE EFFECTIVE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES TO COPE WITH THE EVER INCREASING WORKLOAD," HE SAID.

MR TONG POINTED OUT THAT THE CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT HAD TO COPE WITH GROWING NUMBERS OF PASSENGERS, VEHICLES, VESSELS AND AIRCRAFT, AS WELL AS LARGER QUANTITIES OF GOODS, BUT ITS GROWTH IN WAS LIMITED.

THE DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE FROM AND RISK-MINIMISING APPROACH IN ROUTINE CARGO AND PASSENGER EXAMINATION, HE SAID.

RESOURCES

THE LABOUR-INTENSIVE EXAMINATION,

RUMMAGING

/"IF HIGH