ENG-1993 — Page 336

PUBLIC ORDER

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revenue payable under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, the suppression of illicit trafficking in narcotics, the prevention and detection of smuggling, and the enforcement of intellectual property rights protection.

The department has an establishment of 3 914 posts.

Revenue Protection

The department is responsible for collecting and protecting duty revenue on four groups of dutiable commodities in Hong Kong liquor, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil and methyl alcohol.

The smuggling of dutiable cigarettes into Hong Kong from China continued to be a problem during the year, primarily due to the substantial difference in cigarette prices across the border. Illegal sales of dutiable cigarettes have proliferated in Hong Kong as a result. To combat these activities, enforcement action was stepped up, leading to the detection of 3 272 cases and the seizure of 50 million cigarettes with a duty potential of $29 million.

The illegal use of industrial diesel oil by motor vehicles remained prevalent. Some 244 persons were arrested and 69 659 litres of industrial diesel oil were seized.

In addition to enforcement action, the Dutiable Commodities (Amendment) (No. 2)

Ordinance 1993 was enacted on July 23 to streamline the procedures for the forfeiture and disposal of seized articles.

Anti-Narcotics Operations

The department plays an important role in the prevention and suppression of illicit trafficking in narcotics and other dangerous drugs.

The strategy in attacking drug offenders is directed at all levels, including import, export, manufacturing, distribution and peddling.

Apart from suppressing drug trafficking activities locally, the department also exchanges intelligence and co-operates closely with the Royal Hong Kong Police, overseas customs authorities and other law enforcement agencies in the fight against drug traffickers at the international level. In 1993, the department successfully extradited six persons to the United States for trial in connection with drug offences.

During the year, the department prosecuted 1 010 persons for drug offences and seized 75 kilogrammes of heroin, 38 kilogrammes of opium and 137 kilogrammes of cannabis.

Recovery of Drug Trafficking Proceeds

The department and the police have joint responsibility for enforcing the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance, which is an effective tool in confiscating assets derived from drug trafficking.

During the year, the department successfully obtained four court orders restraining realisable properties suspected to be the proceeds of drug trafficking, with a total value of $0.7 million. Five cases were concluded, with the confiscation of drug proceeds totalling $3.1 million.

The department also completed its first successful case under the bilateral agreement between Hong Kong and the United States for the confiscation of drug proceeds. Assets worth some $2 million, belonging to a convicted drug trafficker in the United States, were ordered by a court to be confiscated in Hong Kong.