XN000022-1992-11-11 — Page 25

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1992

23

FORFEITURE OF SEIZED GOODS TO BE STREAMLINED

THE PROCEDURES

FOR

THE

A BILL THAT AIMS TO STREAMLINE FORFEITURE OF SEIZED GOODS WILL BE GAZETTED ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 13).

"THE

WILL

IN

SPOKESMAN

IMPORT AND EXPORT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992, IF PASSED, AMELIORATE THE PROBLEMS FACED BY THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT THE

A GOVERNMENT STORAGE AND DISPOSAL OF SEIZED ARTICLES,' SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HOWEVER,

**

NOT HE STRESSED THAT THE AMENDMENTS WOULD THE PRINCIPLE OF FAIRNESS TO PARTIES CONCERNED,

UNDERMINE

ILLICIT TRADE AND

OUT THAT OWING TO INCREASE IN HE POINTED SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES IN RECENT YEARS, THE QUANTITY OF GOODS SEIZED AND DETAINED HAD INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.

"SINCE 1988 THE SPACE REQUIRED FOR STORING SEIZED ARTICLES INCREASED FIVE TIMES AND ADDITIONAL STORAGE COSTS HAVE BEEN INCURRED.

DEPARTMENT, HAS POSED AN INCREASING BURDEN ON THE

HAS

"

THE

"THIS SPOKESMAN SAID.

"AMENDMENTS ARE PROPOSED TO ENABLE THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE TO DISPOSE OF THOSE SEIZED ARTICLES WHICH ARE PERISHABLE OR DETERIORATING IN NATURE OR DIFFICULT TO STORE, PRIOR TO CONCLUSION OF ANY FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS SUBJECT TO ADEQUATE CHECKS AND HE SAID.

BALANCES,"

AS FOR THE SERVING OF NOTICES OF SEIZURE. AT PRESENT COMMISSIONER IS OBLIGED TO SERVE NOTICES ON ALL PARTIES WHO APPEAR HIM TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEIZED GOODS.

THE

TO

"THERE ARE HOWEVER DIFFICULTIES IN SERVING NOTICES OF AND COURT SUMMONSES IF THE OFFENDERS ARE NOT RESIDENTS OF HONG THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

SEIZURE KONG,

11

AMENDMENTS ARE

THE OF

THE

INTRODUCED ΤΟ STIPULATE CLEARLY CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE COMMISSIONER NEEDS TO SERVE A NOTICE

CATEGORIES SEIZURE TO THE OWNER, AND AT THE SAME TIME, TO BROADEN THE OF PERSONS

MAKE A CLAIM TO THE WHO

ΤΟ AND COMMISSIONER MAGISTRATE IN A FORFEITURE HEARING.

CAN

"THIS WOULD ALLOW

COMMISSIONER SPOKESMAN SAID.

WITHOUT

MORE EFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCES COMPROMISING THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUITY,"

BY

THE

THE

THE ON

FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS, HE NOTED THAT

AT

PRESENT

AN

AVERAGE OF ABOUT 12 MONTHS WAS REQUIRED TO CONCLUDE CRIMINAL FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS FROM THE POINT OF SEIZURE.

AND

**THE

MONTHS

AMENDMENTS SEEK TO SHORTEN THE PROCEEDINGS BY SIX WHERE THE CLAIMANT OF THE SEIZED GOODS IS ALSO THE DEFENDANT.

"THIS WOULD HELP ECONOMISE THE USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES AND ADDRESS THE STORAGE PROBLEM, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"I

/SEPARATELY, THE