ENG-1989 — Page 298

PUBLIC ORDER

four commands in the operations branch. These are divided into the Ship Search and Cargo, Airport, Marine and Land Enforcement, and the Control Points commands. A task force has been established also to provide operational support to the operations branch as a whole.

In 1989, the department detected 201 smuggling cases under the Import and Export Ordinance and arrested 266 persons with $67 million worth of goods seized. Smuggling activities between Hong Kong and China increased during the year, smuggled goods seized being mainly cigarettes and video-cassette recorders.

Intellectual Property Rights Protection

The department continued to play an active role in the protection of intellectual property rights. During the year 112 persons were charged under the Copyright Ordinance and 768 persons were charged under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance. The total value of pirated and counterfeit goods seized amounted to $131 million.

Significant headway was made in containing the problem of computer software piracy. Due to increased enforcement activities, sales of pirated computer software and manuals in a particularly notorious area in Sham Shui Po have been greatly curtailed.

Music and book piracy, which was effectively suppressed during the past few years, showed no sign of revival but there were indications that pirated video cassettes were becoming a greater problem.

During the year, the department seized a total of 34.5 million cigarettes, in three separate consignments, all of which bore forged trademarks.

=

Customs Co-operation Council (CCC)

The Customs Co-operation Council, of which Hong Kong is a separate member, was established to improve and harmonise international customs operations and thus facilitate international trade.

During the year, the department continued to participate in the council's Permanent Technical Committee, the Enforcement Committee and regional liaison meetings.

A CCC regional liaison office has been established in Hong Kong since December 1987. The office, which is managed by the department, is a central body for the co-ordination of customs intelligence on drug-related matters within the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific region.

Ozone Layer Protection

On July 1, 1989, the Ozone Layer Protection Bill became law. The new ordinance gives effect to Hong Kong's international obligations under the 1985 Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the 1987 Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer. The responsibility of the department under the ordinance is to control the importation and exportation of substances that deplete the ozone layer, and of products containing or made with these substances.

Ivory Trade in Hong Kong

To fulfil its obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Hong Kong imposed a moratorium on the import of raw ivory on June 16, 1989, pending a decision of the Conference of the Parties to CITES. A special task force was established in the department to enforce this.

251