ENG-1979 — Page 186

PUBLIC ORDER

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of acetic anhydride. A total of 850 people were arrested for narcotics offences. Of these, 673 were charged with simple possession or with smoking dangerous drugs. The illicit market value of the narcotics and acetic anhydride seized was estimated at more than $24 million.

Copyright Protection

The Customs and Excise Service is the sole agency for enforcement of the Copyright Ordin- ance concerning the manufacture and distribution of unauthorised copies of literary, dramatic and musical works. Its outstanding success in this field has led to its guidance being sought by other law enforcement agencies in the region.

During the year, the copyright unit handled 42 cases connected with copyright infringe- ment resulting in the seizure of 14 tape recorders, 505 records, 4,645 pirated tapes, and 10,439 copies of pirated books. A total of 31 people were convicted of various copyright offences and fines amounting to $97,815 were imposed by the courts.

Training

The Customs and Excise Training School at Tai Lam Chung in the New Territories is equipped with a wide range of facilities including a gymnasium, a swimming pool, an obstacle training course and a pistol range. It also has a museum housing a variety of in- genious smuggling devices, narcotics paraphernalia and distilling apparatus.

Inspectorate recruits undergo induction training for 28 weeks with a thorough grounding in all areas of the service's responsibilities. Induction training for recruit customs officers lasts 10 weeks. The school also runs refresher and supervisory development courses to update officers in law and working procedure, and to develop leadership and supervisory management qualities. Specialist courses for prosecuting officers, ship rummagers and investigators are also organised with officers of other participating law enforcement agencies. During the year, 116 recruits and 270 serving officers received training at the school.

Independent Commission Against Corruption

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), set up by law in February, 1974, is responsible for the detection and investigation of suspected corruption offences, the prevention of corruption and the enlistment of public support in fighting corruption. In discharging these functions, the Commissioner of the ICAC answers directly to the Governor: the ICAC engages its own staff and is financed from general revenue.

The Advisory Committee on Corruption, consisting of leading citizens and senior government officials, advises the commissioner on policy matters affecting the ICAC's staffing, financial estimates, administration and any other aspect of its work. Each of the three functional branches of the commission - operations, corruption prevention and community relations has an advisory committee made up of members drawn from various sectors of the community. An ICAC Complaints Committee, comprising seven unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative Councils and a law officer, monitors complaints against the commission and advises the commissioner on any action considered

necessary.

The establishment of the commission is 1,088 posts, of which 630 are in operations, 78 in corruption prevention, 274 in community relations and 106 in administration. At the end of the year, 925 were filled, of which 568 were in operations, 59 in corruption prevention, 212 in community relations and 86 in administration.