ENG-1981 — Page 201

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PUBLIC ORDER

Excise Service is responsible for collecting and protecting revenue derived from dutiable commodities. Controls over the import, export, manufacture, sale and storage of these commodities throughout Hong Kong are imposed under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Some $917.38 million in revenue was collected on dutiable commodities in the 1980-1 financial year, compared with $883 million in 1979–80. The service relies tradition- ally on the Government Laboratory to provide analytical and advisory services to protect the revenue. Tobacco products, liquors, denatured spirits, and treated diesel oils were regularly examined whilst a close watch was maintained for adulterated products.

Anti-Narcotics Operations

The service is responsible for the prevention and suppression of illicit trafficking in narcotics, other dangerous drugs and acetylating substances under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance and the Acetylating Substances (Control) Ordinance. Apart from intercepting illegal imports, action is also taken against drug manufacturing, trafficking and abuse within Hong Kong. The service maintains close liaison and co-operation with the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, overseas customs authorities and other law enforcement agencies.

During the year, anti-narcotics operations led to the seizure of 189 kilograms of dangerous drugs - including 36 kilograms of heroin, 52 of heroin base and 96 of opium. A total of 750 people were charged with narcotics offences.

Copyright Protection

The Customs and Excise Service is responsible under the Copyright Ordinance for protecting copyright in respect of literary, dramatic and musical works. While the problem of piracy in sound recording has been largely contained, there has been an upsurge in the illicit copying of motion pictures and television programmes. During 1981, the Copyright Protection Division undertook 156 investigations resulting in 43 persons being charged and seizures of 3 453 pirated video tapes, 59 video recorders, 114 713 pirated books and magazines and 635 pirated musical tapes. An offshoot of the division's activities in video recording had been the seizure of large quantities of pornographic tapes which led to 25 persons being charged with offences under the Objectionable Publications Ordinance.

Independent Commission Against Corruption

There are signs that corruption is on the increase, with a record number of 509 people brought to court during 1981. The number of corruption complaints made to the commission also went up by 32 per cent compared with the previous year.

The ICAC - established in 1974 to tackle the problem of corruption through detection, prevention and education – is financed from general revenue. However, the commissioner engages his own staff and is directly responsible to the Governor.

The commission has an establishment of 1 138 with 683 posts in the operations department, 68 in the corruption prevention department and 273 in the community relations department. Support service is provided by an administration branch which is made up of 114 posts. At the end of the year, the commission had 1 005 staff, with 65 in operations, 60 in corruption prevention, 235 in community relations and 95 in the administration branch.

An advisory committee on corruption consisting of leading citizens and senior govern- ment officials provides guidance for the commission on policy matters affecting staffing, financial estimates, administration and other aspects of its work. Each of the three