ENG-2000 — Page 387

PUBLIC ORDER

trafficking in them. It also enforced the Control of Chemicals Ordinance, which aims at preventing the diversion of chemicals for illicit manufacture of dangerous drugs and psychotropic substances.

The Customs Drug Investigation Bureau is the department's major investigative arm in combating narcotics. Its main functions are to conduct investigations and surveillance to combat illegal manufacture, trafficking or use of drugs. The department works closely with the Police Force and also various drug enforcement agencies in the Mainland and overseas in the exchange of intelligence and arrest of drug criminals.

In 2000, the department dealt with 71 major drug trafficking cases, as well as neutralising four heroin attenuating and 21 distribution centres. Officers seized 45.8 kilograms of heroin, 61.4 kilograms of cannabis, 5.5 kilograms of cocaine, 55.8 kilograms of methylamphetamine (‘ice'), 91 178 tablets of MDMA (‘ecstasy') and 134 921 tablets of other psychotropic drugs. A total of 815 persons were arrested for drug-related offences.

During the year, the department confiscated assets worth $548,000 derived from drug trafficking and shared in drug trafficking proceeds of $7 million confiscated by a foreign government. Drug-related assets worth $850,000 were restrained pending confiscation. The department conducted 2 040 investigations into money laundering. One person was convicted and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for such an offence.

Boundary Control

In 2000, vehicular traffic movements through the three control points at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok increased by 8.5 per cent to 11 207 031 when compared with 1999.

To further enhance the Customs' capabilities in processing the ever-increasing numbers of cross-boundary passengers and vehicles and to alleviate traffic congestion at the Control Point, the Lok Ma Chau Control Point Expansion Project Phase II has commenced, and is scheduled for completion in 2003. The Phase II project covers expansion of the passenger terminal and cargo facilities, and installation of fixed X-ray vehicle inspection systems.

To facilitate Hong Kong's development as an international and regional air cargo hub, the Air Cargo Transhipment (Facilitation) Ordinance came into effect in May. Under the ordinance, the licensing control over certain categories of transhipment cargo was relaxed, with the aim of facilitating the smooth flow of cargo at the Hong Kong International Airport without compromising the integrity of Customs controls. The first regional air express cargo hub at the airport for processing express transhipment cargo to and from Seoul, Taipei, Osaka, Singapore and Manila began full-scale operation from November. To facilitate the hub's operation, with an average daily throughput of 3 200 consignments, special and expeditious Customs clearance arrangements have been provided.

Smuggling

In 2000, the department detected 413 smuggling offences, arrested 535 persons and seized contraband goods worth $252.7 million. Smuggling between Hong Kong and the Mainland remained a cause for concern.

327