XN000022-1995-04-19 — Page 47

(c)

32.

-

We will however consider the feasibility of disclosing the names of employers in the next allocation receive when we review the allocation operation in the coming few months.

Importation of health-care workers are allowed under the General Scheme and are subject to the same application procedures and quota allocation criteria and including the ceiling of 25,000 workers.

End/Wednesday, April 19, 1995

Cigarette smuggling

Following is a question by the Hon Chim Pui-chung and a reply by the Secretary for the Treasury, Mr K C Kwong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

With regard to the problem of cigarette smuggling, will the Government inform this Council of :

(a)

(b)

the total number of smuggled cigarettes seized by the law enforcement departments, together with the loss in revenue, in the past three years;

what effective measures does the Government have to eradicate cigarette smuggling activities?

Answer:

Mr President.

During the past three years. the Customs and Excise Department has seized a total of 249 million sticks of cigarettes with duty potential of $144 million.

The Government tackles cigarette smuggling in three ways.

first, by taking vigorous enforcement action both at the border control points and at street level,