ENG-2001 — Page 404

PUBLIC ORDER

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content in excess of that stipulated in the Air Pollution Control (Motor Vehicle Fuel) Regulation is presumed to be dutiable.

Resulting from the enhanced deterrent effect on offenders and the department's vigorous enforcement action, the number of illicit filling stations was reduced from an estimated 110 during 2000 to 35 in 2001. The department neutralised 31 illicit oil detreating plants and 11 synthetic petrol manufactories; 647 persons were arrested. Altogether, 1.6 million litres of various types of illicit fuel, valued at $9.6 million, were seized. The duty potential of the seized illicit fuel amounted to $5.4 million, a decrease of 45 per cent compared with 2000.

Anti-narcotics Operations

The department continued to take vigorous enforcement action to prevent and suppress the unlawful manufacture, distribution and trafficking of dangerous drugs, and to trace, confiscate and recover proceeds accrued in the illegal drug business. 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 illicit drugs. The bureau's main functions are to conduct. investigations and surveillance to combat illegal manufacture, trafficking or use of drugs. In addition, 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 the arrest of drug criminals.

In 2001, the department dealt with 83 drug trafficking cases, neutralised one heroin attenuating centre and one 'ecstasy' manufacturing centre, and raided 20 distribution centres. Officer seized 46.3 kilograms of heroin, 189.7 kilograms of cannabis, 24.6 kilograms of cocaine, 25.6 kilograms of methylamphetamine (‘ice'), 48.5 kilograms of ketamine, 23 663 tablets of MDMA ('ecstasy') and 36 275 tablets of other psychotropic drugs. A total of 835 persons were arrested for drug-related offences. Drug proceeds amounting to $1.42 million were restrained pending confiscation.

Boundary Control

In 2001, vehicular traffic movements through the three control points at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok increased by 1.1 per cent to 11 334 290 compared with 2000.

To further enhance the Customs' capabilities in processing the ever-increasing numbers of cross-boundary passengers and vehicles, the Lok Ma Chau Control Point Expansion Project Phase II was launched and it is scheduled for completion in 2003. It covers the expansion of the passenger terminal, improvement of the cargo examination facilities, reprovisioning of the existing vehicle processing kiosks, and the installation of two fixed X-ray vehicle inspection systems. In addition, an Automatic Vehicle Recognition System will be installed at the Lok Ma Chau, Ma Kam To and Sha Tau Kok Control Points by September 2003 to expedite the processing of vehicles.

To facilitate the smooth flow of air-land intermodal transhipment cargo from the Hong Kong International Airport to the Mainland, a one-stop customs clearance service has been provided since August 2000. Special and expeditious customs