ENG-1961 — Page 113

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INDUSTRY AND TRADE

The co-operation and liaison established with overseas customs authorities continued on a wider basis during 1961 and proved to be beneficial to both the promotion and control of exports under certificates of origin of all types. During the year exports of goods certified by the Commerce and Industry Department to be of Hong Kong origin were valued at $696.44 million. Exports to Commonwealth territories including Britain, covered by Com- monwealth Preference Certificates, were valued at $577.05 million.

The Foreign Assets Control Regulations of the United States Treasury Department prohibit the importation from Hong Kong of a wide range of goods which are presumed by American law to originate in the Chinese Peoples Republic or in North Korea, unless evidence is produced to the contrary. The Department again introduced a number of new procedures to produce this evidence in 1961. During the year, presumptive goods valued at $449.02 million were exported to the United States and its dependencies under 'Comprehensive' Certificates of Origin, issued solely for this purpose.

THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE

The Preventive Service is the uniformed and disciplined branch of the Commerce and Industry Department, with duties similar to those normally exercised by a Customs and Excise service for the protection of revenue accruing from dutiable commodities. There are five dutiable commodities in Hong Kong (see Chapter 4).

The Service is also responsible for the enforcement of trade controls and for the inspection of factories and goods in connexion with the export of Hong Kong products under Certificates of Origin and Commonwealth Preference Certificates. In conjunction with the Police, it plays a vital role in the suppression of drug trafficking and the 'ships' guards' system provided by the Preventive Service has played a successful part in improving control over the movement of narcotics into and out of the Colony.

The Chief Preventive Officer, responsible to the Director of Commerce and Industry, commands a force of four gazetted officers, 212 inspectorate and 334 rank and file, including 19 women officers.

The general organization of the Preventive Service remained unchanged during the year, the duties being divided between eight