XN000022-1993-03-01 — Page 17

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MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1993

"IN VIEW OF THE CURRENT PREVALENCE OF ORGANISED SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES AND INFLATION OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THE TO INCREASE THE SCALE OF REWARDS TO REGAIN ITS INDUCEMENT VALUE, SPOKESMAN SAID.

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THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INCREASES ARE THOSE REWARDS LEADING то CONVICTION AND FORFEITURE OF DUTIABLE CIGARETTES AND DIESEL OIL.

INFORMATION ABOUT DUTIABLE

AS FROM TODAY, REWARDS FOR CIGARETTES WOULD BE INCREASED BY 350%, AND DIESEL OIL BY 200%.

INFORMATION ON SMUGGLING OFFENCES MAY BE REWARDED BY MAXIMUM OF $100,000 DEPENDING ON THE VALUE OF GOODS SEIZED.

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"THE WORLD OF SMUGGLING HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN RECENT YEARS AND IT IS NECESSARY TO ADOPT EVERY POSSIBLE ENFORCEMENT MEASURE TO MEET THE CHANGE,' THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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HE SAID INFORMERS MAY TELEPHONE THE DEPARTMENT'S HOTLINE ON 545 6182 OR WRITE TO GPO BOX 1166. INFORMATION TREATED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE.

24-HOUR

WILL BE

FS TO DELIVER BUDGET SPEECH ON WEDNESDAY

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HONG KONG'S BUDGET FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1993/94 WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 3).

THE PROCEEDINGS WILL START A'T 2.30 PM AND THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, WILL MOVE THE FIRST AND SECOND READINGS OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1993, AND OUTLINE THE ESTIMATED REVENUE EXPENDITURE FOR 1993/94.

AND

THE HEADS OF EXPENDITURE WERE SET OUT IN THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1993 WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE LAST FRIDAY.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WILL BE ADJOURNED UNTIL MARCH 24 AND 25, WHEN MEMBERS WILL GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON THE BUDGET PROPOSALS.

OFFICIALS WILL GIVE THEIR REPLIES ON MARCH 31.

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ON MARCH 17 18 AND 19, THERE WILL ALSO BE SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE THE DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE.

ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:

GIS WILL PROVIDE FACILITIES ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 3) ΤΟ ENABLE MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO START WORK EARLY ON THE BUDGET.

/MEDIA MEMPERS