XN000022-1992-05-26 — Page 17

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TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1992

CUSTOMS AND EXCISE COMMISSIONER CALLS FOR SUPPORT

* * * *

THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR CLIVE TONIGHT (TUESDAY) CALLED FOR CO-OPERATION ON CUSTOMS WORK IN A TO THE LIONS CLUB OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

OXLEY, SPEECH

"OBVIOUSLY NONE LIKES TO HAVE PERSONAL BAGGAGE OR COMMERCIAL CONSIGNMENTS CHECKED BY A CUSTOMS OFFICER BUT, SHOULD IT EVER HAPPEN

AND ΤΟ TO YOU, I WOULD ASK YOU TO REMEMBER THE PLUS SIDE

APPRECIATE THE REASONS," HE SAID.

IF THE HONG KONG CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DID NOT EXIST,

FIRSTLY, SOME HK$7 BILLION WOULD

LOST IN ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DUTIABLE COMMODITIES.

BE

USA

"TEXTILE ORIGIN AND QUOTA FRAUD WOULD INCREASE DRAMATICALLY, PERHAPS TO THE EXTENT THAT OUR MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS SUCH AS THE AND THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY WOULD TAKE ECONOMIC ACTION AGAINST US.

"FURTHERMORE, THE ILLEGAL IMPORT OF DANGEROUS DRUGS, FIREARMS WOULD ALSO ESCALATE WITH ALL THE UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCES THIS WOULD HAVE, MR OXLEY SAID.

AND

AMMUNITION

"

INTERNATIONAL

ON CUSTOMS AND EXCISE IN THE THAT A NEW DIMENSION IN CUSTOMS OPERATIONS FACILITATION.

HE CONTEXT,

SAID WAS THE NEED FOR TRADE

"THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF CUSTOMS WORK WAS ΤΟ IMPOSE CONTROL WHETHER FOR FISCAL OR FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES.

"HOWEVER, WITH THE EVER GROWING VOLUME OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND ITS EVER GREATER IMPORTANCE TO THE ECONOMIES OF THE COUNTRIES PROCESS INVOLVED, IT HAS BECOME NECESSARY TO SPEED UP CUSTOMS CONTROL WITHOUT LOSING EFFICIENCY IN ORDER TO

ΤΟ UNDUE DELAY COMMERCIAL PROCEDURES," HE SAID.

AVOID

NORMAL

RISK HE SAID A HIGH

MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUE HAD ALREADY BEEN DEVELOPED IN HONG KONG TO SPEED UP EXISTING OPERATION.

COMPANIES

WHO

"THIS INVOLVES THE USE OF INFORMATION, EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE TO BUILD UP PROFILES FOR INDIVIDUALS OR

ARE

LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.

"WHAT NOW HAPPENS IS THAT AN OVERALL SYSTEM OF OBSERVATION OR CARGO MONITORING IS MAINTAINED BOTH OVER

AND OVER

AND, TRAVELLERS

THE MODERN ALTHOUGH SOME RANDOM OR PERCENTAGE CHECKS ARE STILL MADE, TREND IS TO BASE EXAMINATIONS MORE AND MORE ON THE INTELLIGENCE WE BUILD UP.

"AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THIS TECHNIQUE IS INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION INSOFAR AS THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION IS INVOLVED.

/"A NEW

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