ENG-2006 — Page 386

318 Public Order

2006. A new unit with an establishment of 26 officers has been formed to provide customs clearance services at the terminal,

Anti-smuggling Operations

Smuggling between Hong Kong and the Mainland continued. In 2006, a total of 202 smuggling cases were detected, 388 people arrested and over $265 million worth of smuggled goods seized. Evasion of tariff or duty as well as other import and export regulatory controls is the major incentive for smuggling.

Computer parts, electrical and electronic appliances, and precious metals such as silver and nickel were common items smuggled from Hong Kong to the Mainland. Due to the price difference between the duty-exempt marked oil sold in Hong Kong and the light diesel oil sold on the Mainland, the year saw an upsurge in the smuggling of marked oil. The increase in sales tax on vehicles on the Mainland in April 2006 prompted a sharp rise in the smuggling of dismantled vehicles from Hong Kong.

Inbound smuggling activities subsided during the year. Common items smuggled into Hong Kong from the Mainland included cigarettes, pirated optical discs, and meat and poultry.

The department continued to liaise closely with the Police and other local and overseas law enforcement agencies to make concerted efforts to combat smuggling activities. Cooperation with the Mainland authorities was enhanced through the exchange of intelligence and the mounting of parallel operations at the land boundary control points and at sea.

Narcotics Division

The Narcotics Division (ND) of the Security Bureau is tasked with coordinating policies and ways to fight drug abuse, money laundering and terrorism financing.

Overall Strategy and Coordination

The Government adopts a five-pronged approach to fighting drug abuse. The strategy involves legislation and law enforcement, education and publicity, treatment and rehabilitation, research, and international cooperation.

The Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) advises the Government on the formulation of anti-drug strategies. It is a non-statutory body composed of professionals in the medical, youth service, educational and anti-drug fields. Headed by a chairman, it has 16 unofficial members and two official members. The officials are the Commissioner for Narcotics and a representative from the Department of Health. Under an arrangement between Singapore and Hong Kong, the Director of Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau also sits on the committee.

Legislation

Regular reviews are conducted to see whether amendments or revision to the existing ordinances are needed to deal with changes in the illicit drugs world.