Playing the dual roles of law enforcement agency and trade facilitator, Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department has strived to attain remarkable results in revenue protection, crackdowns on customs-related offences, and trade facilitation, the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Timothy Tong, said today (February 3).
Mr Tong highlighted some of the major Departmental achievements when hosting a press conference to review the work of the Department in 2004.
On revenue protection, the total amount of duty on dutiable commodities collected by the Department in 2004 was $6.54 billion, representing an increase of nearly 1 per cent over that in 2003.
In addition, the Department cracked and processed a total of 68,767 cases leading to the arrest of 9,829 persons. This represented an increase of 11 per cent in the number of cases and 9 per cent in the number of arrests when compared with that in 2003.
To maintain Hong Kong as an important trading, transportation and logistics hub in Asia by ensuring the smooth flow of people and cargoes at various control points, the Department cleared a total of about 21.9 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) cargo containers, 14.48 million cross-boundary vehicles and 181 million passengers at all control points in Hong Kong in 2004, reflecting respective increases of 7 per cent, 10 per cent and 19 per cent over those in 2003.
Mr Tong said that Hong Kong Customs has always struck a fine balance between law enforcement and trade facilitation. In fulfilling its obligations, the Department adopts the "more, fast, saving and accurate" working philosophy.
"With enhanced strategic planning and enforcement, the Department is able to contain the crime situation of illicit cigarette, fuel and copyright infringement activities, forcing the offenders to operate in a stealthy manner.
"Strategies include hitting the source of the crime; crushing syndicated activities; and removing the lifeblood of such syndicates by applying the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance to confiscate the illegal proceeds. Coupled with these are pro-active intelligence exchange and cooperation with local and overseas enforcement agencies; and formation of partnerships and alliances with industry players," Mr Tong said.
In 2004, the Department effected a total of 49,636 cases, with the seizure of 167.6 million sticks of cigarettes and the arrest of 5 406 persons. The seized illicit cigarettes were worth $252 million and the duty potential was more than $134 million. The number of cases effected and persons arrested was 14 per cent and 19 per cent respectively higher than those in 2003.
In 2004, the Department seized a total of 1.7 million litres of hydrocarbon oil with a total value of $13.27 million in 1,417 hydrocarbon oil cases. The duty potential was $5.54 million. The number of cases detected increased by 12 per cent versus that in 2003.
On the anti-narcotics front, the Department seized 11.8 kg of heroin, 4.8 kg of ketamine, 116,477 tablets of "ecstasy", 111.2 kg of cannabis, 11 kg of "ice", 13.2 kg of cocaine and 26,701 tablets of other psychotropic substance. One drug attenuating centre and 19 drug distribution centres were smashed and 700 drug offenders were arrested, of whom 98 were charged with drug trafficking offences.
Piracy activities continue to shrink. The number of pirated optical discs shops has further decreased from 105 at the beginning of 2003 to about 70 at the end of 2004.
Commenting on the peer-to-peer type infringing activities, Mr Tong said, "Apart from keeping on monitoring infringing activities over the Internet and maintaining enforcement operations, jointly with other departments, we are working together with the industry and Internet service providers to explore effective measures to combat copyright infringement on the Internet."
In trade facilitation, the Department has constantly introduced new measures, acquired equipment and streamlined procedures in a bid to enhance clearance efficiency so as to speed up the cross-boundary passenger and cargo flow, and to facilitate the relevant business sectors as well. Mr Tong cited the following measures.
Measures:
Facilities and equipment:
Looking ahead, Mr Tong noted the Department would face numerous challenges arising from its work and manpower planning. "Despite this, the Department will strive to maintain its high level of efficiency and quality services in law enforcement and trade facilitation for the benefits of Hong Kong."
Ends/Thursday, February 3, 2005