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I am very pleased to announce the publication of this inaugural issue
of "Customs News". I intend this to be a quarterly departmental
newspaper for distribution to all serving and retired members of the
department. Copies may also be circulated to overseas agencies such
as customs administrations in the region.
In the Customs modernisation programme I emphasize on improvement
in internal communication and fostering a sense of belonging among
staff. Publication of "Customs News", I am sure, will
contribute greatly to these aspects.
"Customs News" will be a forum for dissemination of information
about direction and development of the department as well as activities
and achievements of the staff. It will cover not only professional
aspects of customs work but also social aspects of members' professional
life.
There will be columns on significant customs issues and latest technologies
affecting customs work; major tasks and new initiatives undertaken
by the department; departmental acquisition of new skills and equipment;
development of departmental capital work projects; departmental
activities in welfare, sports and recreation; and personnel news
including news about retired members. There will be serious as well
as light-hearted articles. A Readers Column will be included for
exchange of ideas. You will be welcome to make contributions.
I have harboured the idea of publishing a departmental newsletter
for the past 15 years. I am very glad that the idea has at last
been put into reality with support of the directorate and the hard
work of headquarters staff. I am deeply indebted to everyone concerned
and I am grateful to the editorial board.
(LI Shu-fai)
Commissioner
Service of Customs and Excise is outstanding : CE
The service of the department in recent years has been outstanding
particularly in the area of protection of copyright and trademark.
The Chief Executive, the Honourable TUNG Chee-hwa, said this at
the passing-out parade held at the Customs and Excise Training School
on January 17, 1998.
Mr Tung noted that after the establishment of the Special Administrative
Region, Hong Kong continued to function effectively as a separate
customs territory under the existing trading systems and committed
itself to the successful implementation of the "one country,
two systems" concept.
"The Customs and Excise Department undertakes a wide range
of responsibilities, including revenue collection, anti-narcotics
and anti-smuggling work, protection of intellectual property rights
and consumer interests, trade facilitation as well as trade controls,
" he said. He pointed out that as an important financial and
trading centre in the world, Hong Kong had been playing an active
role in the protection of intellectual property.
The department, which is also responsible for all operations in
the detection of pirated and counterfeit goods, works closely with
overseas law-enforcers as well as trademark and copyright owners
in its fight against acts of infringement.
Mr Tung told the officers at the parade that he was confident that
they would continue to step up their action in combating piracy
and counterfeiting for the protection of intellectual property rights.
"I am also pleased to note that your department is in the process
of modernization in areas such as information technology and human
resource management. New computer systems are being installed. Equipment
has been upgraded for greater safety and better duty performance,"
Mr Tung said.
He noted that arrangements had also been made for the building of
new customs launches and that the Customs Headquarters building
was on the drawing board.
"All these point to the fact that the department is a progressive
and forward-looking organization, move forward into a new era and
continue to play an important role in the Special Administrative
Region," Mr Tung concluded.
Thirty-one probationary inspectors and 106 probationary Customs
officers took part in the parade on that day.
Customs to prepare for challenges ahead
To prepare for the challenges in the years ahead, the department
is undergoing a process of modernization and has already launched
a number of new projects, including new computer systems, construction
of the Kwai Chung Customhouse, additional customs launches, new
installations for customs at Chek Lap Kok and planning for a customs
headquarters building.
This was stated by the Commissioner when hosting a year-end press
briefing to review the work of the department in 1997.
Last year had been an important one in our history, Commissioner
said, adding that Hong Kong re-united with the Motherland to become
a Special Administrative Region of China and had remained a separate
customs territory.
"We have maintained our full capability as a customs service
and continued to function in the way that we were used to,"
he said.
The separate customs territory status underpins Hong Kong's trading
autonomy and is one of the key factors in the "one country
two systems" principle.
"As the customs department of a separate customs territory,
we have maintained a healthy and growing co-operative relationship
with our mainland colleagues but we make our own decisions. We have
continued to participate in international conferences and maintained
and developed our relationship with other customs administrations
and law enforcement agencies around the world," he added.
At the press conference, the Commissioner highlighted the range
of responsibilities of the department and the achievements in various
areas of work in the past year.
Department plans to set up a Retired Officers' Association
Aims to set up the Association
In view of the growing number of retired officers, the department
has considered that there is a need to establish a better link and
communication between the department and retired staff, as well
as among retired officers. In this connection, the management has
contemplated assisting in setting up an association for retired
officers of this department (official name of the association is
under consideration). It is the management's intention that setting
up of the new association will achieve the following:
- To maintain the connection and communication between retired
officers and the department;
- To foster friendship, mutual aid and support, and sharing
of experience in retired life;
- To assist in dissemination of information of interest
to retired officers and of news of the department;
- To safeguard the rights, welfare and benefits of retired
officers;
- To organize and promote recreational, charitable activities
and welfare affairs;
- To provide assistance and counselling for retired officers
who have encountered problems and difficulties; and
- To provide pre-retirement counselling and guidance for
serving officers regarding preparation for retirement.
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Department invites former colleagues and interested colleagues
to participate
The change in personal circumstances during the transition to retirement,
indeed, presents an exceptional opportunity to a person to reassess
his life. While no one can offer an individual person a blueprint
for the perfect retirement, only the person concerned who himself
can decide about what he wants his retirement to be.
For those who are approaching retirement, beginning to experience
retirement, or enjoying retired life, it will be an encouraging
and meaningful circumstance when an association be established by
our former colleagues - where one can seek assistance and encouragement
from his former colleagues whom have performed similar work for
years, share valuable pre-and-post retirement experience, keep in
touch with the department, and receive information and news of his
concern.
Any former or serving colleagues who wish to participate in setting
up the proposed association may contact Service Welfare Officer
Mr Pang Chi-ming (Tel. 2231 4377)
Customs and Excise Department on the Internet
The Customs and Excise Department home page was launched on the
Internet on 24 December 1997. World-wide Internet users can now
obtain comprehensive and up-to-date information about the activities
of the department by visiting the web site at "http://www.info.gov.hk./customs/".
The contents of the homepage will be regularly reviewed with a view
to providing more and up-to-date information to the public.
Anti-piracy Reward Scheme
The Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Control and Intellectual
Property), Mr Vincent Poon Yeung-kwong appealed to members of the
public to provide more information to combat piracy.
Speaking at a signing ceremony for an anti-piracy reward scheme
on December 10, 1997. Mr Poon noted that the scheme signalled the
determination of both the government and copyright organisations
to further combat piracy.
Six copyright organisations-International Federation of the Phonographic
Industry, Motion Picture Association, Business Software Alliance,
Software Publishers Association, Nintendo, and Hong Kong, Kowloon
and New Territories Motion Picture Association Limited, have contributed
a total reward of $1.2 million in the fight against piracy.
While paying tribute to the associations for their support in combating
piracy, Mr Poon noted that rewards ranging from $5,000 to $100,000
would be paid to any person who provided information leading to
the seizure of pirated CD-ROMs and production equipment as well
as the successful prosecution or conviction of persons so connected.
The reward scheme was operated in an attempt to repress piracy activities
in their production line and retail market level, he added.
"We have been stepping up enforcement action to protect intellectual
property rights in Hong Kong," Mr Poon stressed.
The department had, in the first 10 months of 1997, seized 3.3 million
pirated CD-ROMs, a three-fold increase as compared with the seizure
made in 1996, he said.
Information on anti-piracy can be passed to the department by calling
the 24-hour customs hotline 2545 4546.
International Customs Day
The celebration this year for the International Customs Day was
held at the Customs and Excise Service Senior Officers' Mess on
26 January 1998. Mr Kwong Kei-chi, Secretary for the Treasury, was
the principal guest. In addition, over 220 senior government officials,
representatives of trade associations and private partners, consulate
staff, members of the Executive and the Provisional Councils, and
dignitaries attended the function.
Celebration of the International Customs Day was an annual event
for Customs and Excise Department. The idea of having an International
Customs Day came from the World Customs Organization.
In 1982, the World Customs Organization approved such an idea as
a means of promoting customs cooperation in the interests of international
trade and forging closed links between customs officials of different
customs administrations.
In 1984, the World Customs Organization formally adopted 26th January
as the International Customs Day which commemorates the anniversary
of its first meeting on 26 January 1953.
As a member of the World Customs Organization since 1 July 1987,
Hong Kong subscribes to the objectives of the Organization. On 26
January 1988, Hong Kong Celebrated International Customs Day for
the first time. The celebration has since taken place every year.
Prevention of Copyright Piracy Bill
Customs officers are going to enforce a new piece of legislation
entitled the "Prevention of Copyright Piracy Bill" which
aims at combating and preventing pirated optical discs at source.
The Bill, which was introduced by the Secretary for Trade and Industry
into the Provisional Legislative Council (PLC) for consideration
on 21 January 1998, proposes a compulsory licensing system for the
manufacture of optical discs and requires optical discs produced
in Hong Kong to be permanently embossed or marked with a code indicating
their source of manufacture.
The new legislation would help Customs officers to identify the
local factories for the manufacture of optical discs, empower them
to inspect these factories and ensure that the production of optical
discs in these factories is lawful. Besides, the source identification
code would assist our officers in the tracking process and provide
an easy way for consumers to identify legitimate optical discs from
illegal ones.
We anticipate that the Bill would be supported by the PLC. If everything
goes smooth, the new legislation will come into operation in mid-1998.
We have asked for 13 additional post for the implementation of the
licensing scheme.
Sports & Recreation News
The Inter-Branch Soccer Tournament 1997/98 was held on 8.1.98 at
Ma Chai Hang Sports Ground, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon. The results were:
Champion -
Ship Search & Cargo Command Team
1st Runner-up -
Marine & Land Enforcement / Intellectual Property Investigation
Bureau Combined Team
2nd Runner-up -
A-Branch and Civil Secretariat Combined Team
The Badminton Competition 1997 was held on 15.1.98 at Harbour Road
Indoor Games Hall, Wanchai, Hong Kong. The results were: -
MEN'S SINGLE
Champion -
Poon Fai-hung (SCO 8303)
1st Runner-up -
Li Kwok-ying (TCO)
LADIES' SINGLE
Champion -
Kwok Miu-chi (Insp)
1st Runner-up -
Fung Ching-bo (CO 8894)
VETERAN'S SINGLE
Champion -
Lau Pui-wah (COII)
1st Runner-up -
Chan Hon-man (SI)
The sports and Recreation Club will organise a Gala Day on 22.2.98
at Customs & Excise Training School at Perowne Barracks. All
staff and family members are cordially invited to participate in
this event.
The 6th Customs Regional Soccer Tournament will be hosted by our
department in early March this year. The Tournament will take place
at Sham Shui Po Sports Ground, Kowloon between 3.3.98 and 8.3.98.
Japan, Thailand, Guangdong, Macau and Hong Kong Customs Administrations
will participate in the Tournament.
Chung Ying Street, Sha Tau Kok A Shopping Paradise of Gold Articles
Can you believe that a 18K gold necklace costs only HK$60? Visit
Chung Ying Street, Sha Tau Kok and try your luck! Well, you may
realise that it is quite unlikely to have such a good bargain in
reality. Even with the rapid decrease of the gold price in recent
years, it has not been possible to have so cheap a price.
Last year, the Trading Standards Investigation Bureau (TSIB) received
several complaints from residents in the Mainland on fineness deficiency
of the gold articles sold at certain gold and jewellery shops in
Chung Ying Street, Sha Tau Kok. Acting on the complaints, TSIB officers
raided the shops which were alleged of selling fake 18K gold articles.
Investigations revealed that the shops were selling gold-plated
articles as 18K gold articles. The gold-plated articles were mingled
with genuine 18K gold articles for sale in a bid to make people
believe that they were genuine gold articles. Besides, the original
prices of these articles were usually labelled at several hundreds
or a thousand dollars although the actual price offered was less
than a hundred. At a first glance, it seemed that you were being
offered gold articles at a very competitive price. You would find
the offer so irresistible!
Government Chemist's analytical reports confirmed that the so- called
"18K" gold articles were not made of gold. They were actually
made of lead or copper-zinc alloy coated with a thin layer of gold.
According to our enforcement statistics, the department had successfully
prosecuted 16 those shops in 1997 for violations of the precious
metal marking orders, resulting in a total court fines of HK$40,000
and forfeiture of the goods concerned. Furthermore, TSIB colleagues
have recently smashed a manufacturing centre in Tuen Mun for the
manufacture of fake gold articles and seized over 600 pieces of
bracelets, worth HK$180,000. The owner of the manufacturing centre
will be prosecuted. To combat similar malpractice, our colleagues
at the Lo Wu Control Point also arrested 3 persons last year for
possession of fake gold articles on entering Hong Kong. After TSIB's
investigation, they were all convicted by the court. Two of them
were each sentenced to three months' imprisonment while the other
one was fined HK$10,000.
How can we identify the genuineness of gold articles? Frankly speaking,
it is rather difficult for us to make a judgment just by their appearance.
To assist our investigation, an electronic gold tester is used.
During the screen test, a sample of the precious metal is connected
to the tester at a point where the positive and negative charges
are contacted. The indicator of the tester will display a reading
of the fineness of gold or platinum content of the sample. If the
fineness of the gold article is confirmed to have been overstated,
the article will be seized and referred to the Government Laboratory
for formal testing. With the aid of the testing report issued by
the Government Chemist, we are able to track down dishonest gold
traders.
The objective of the enforcement of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance,
the Trade Descriptions (Marking) (Gold and Gold Alloy) Order 1984
and the Trade Descriptions (Marking) (Platinum) Order is to protect
the interest of consumers. Under the said laws, gold or platinum
articles supplied in the course of trade must bear a marking of
fineness of gold or platinum content. Traders are also required
to display notices specifying the requirements of the laws at the
point of supply. Any person who contravenes the said legislation
may be prosecuted. The maximum penalty is a fine of $500,000 plus
an imprisonment for five years.
Pui O Service Holiday House
The department owns a holiday house on Lantau Island and rents another
one on Cheung Chau Island.
The Pui O Holiday House was purchased in 1988 with the generous
donation from Mr Steve Lau Hon Wah. It is a popular holiday resort
for staff of the department. At the end of 1997 it was closed for
renovation work, and was reopened on 24 January 1998. The expenses
of renovation was again paid by Mr Steve Lau Hon Wah. The department
is most grateful for his generosity.
"Customs News" Editorial Board
Mr Li Wai-man, Raymond (Chairman)
Mr Wong Man-on
Mr Wong Shiu-ming, Simon
Mr Chu Chan-pui, Francis
Mr Wong Chun-kong
Mr Sek Gon-sing
Mr Tiu Shui-pui, Peter
Mr Leung Shung-chi, Alex
Mr Chan Kai-hing (Secretary)
Office of Service Administration & Training:
9/F Harbour Building
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
Fax: 2815 3558
Your Contributions to the "Customs News"
The "Customs News" is a departmental newsletter aiming
at strengthening the communication between the management and staff.
It is a forum for dissemination of information on various aspects
of work life in the department. It is also a forum for us to exchange
ideas.
Your contributions, can be in Chinese or in English or both, and
with photographs to supplement its contents, are welcome. You may
share with your colleagues your working experience or any interesting
issues of your office with which not all others are familiar. Your
views and opinions on various aspects of the development of the
department are also welcome.
Please write to the Editorial Board of "Customs News",
Office of Service Administration and Training, Customs and Excise
Department Headquarters, 9/F, Harbour Building, No.38, Pier Road,
Central, Hong Kong. Please also provide name, office and contact
telephone number.
For further enquiries, please feel free to contact SI Leung Shung-chi
at telephone number 2852 3373.
Staff Opinion Survey
The department is planning to employ a consultant to conduct a staff
opinion survey. It's main objective is to obtain the opinions of
staff on various aspects of their work environment and perception
on issues which will have an impact on the department's service
culture and initiatives.
A series of HRM programmes are being planned for implementation
in the department. The programme in the pipeline is the "Performance
Management System" (PMS) of Customs Officer Grade staff which
will be launched in March this year. In view of the impact, scale
and complexity of the PMS programme and other key HRM programmes
being planned, it is essential and important that comprehensive
opinions are obtained from staff and quantitative information is
generated for the department to identify potential issues, obstacles
and problems for changes; to align and establish linkages between
these HRM programmes; and to utilise more effectively the resources
to carry out the programmes.
The staff opinion survey will be a census of all Service members
and staff members of Trade Controls Officer Grade. The survey will
cover the following main areas:-
- Staff satisfaction and morale;
- Staff perception of the department's;
- Vision, Mission and Values;
- Leadership and management practices; communication process;
- Career development and training; and
- Performance appraisal.
Discussion is being held with the Civil Service Bureau on the
funding for and appointment of consultant. Staff opinions will be
collected and analysed by the consultant and all information will
be kept in strict confidence. It is planned to conduct the survey
in March/April 1998.
New Performance Appraisal System for Customs Officer Grade
In 1998, the department will introduce a new performance appraisal
system for Customs Officer Grade.
The new system incorporates core competencies into the performance
assessment criteria. In addition, a panel system will be established
to ensure consistency in assessment standards. The competencies
were developed by a consultancy firm LLA Pacific Ltd through a year's
study and review.
Mr M O Wong, Senior Staff Officer, said there were many advantages
in adopting competency-based assessment criteria. These include:-
- core competencies are generic, hence applicable to all
Customs Officer Grade posts;
- they are observable, measurable, differentiating and trainable;
- and they can be used to integrate with other human resource
activities such as recruitment, training and development,
posting and manpower planning.
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