With the opening of more boundary checkpoints and the implementation of CEPA early next year, Customs officers are set to face many new challenges.

Visiting the Customs & Excise Department today, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee said he is confident officers will keep up their good work despite the new testing circumstances.

Commissioner for Customs & Excise Timothy Tong briefed Mr Lee on the department's latest developments.

The security head also met with representatives of the department's staff associations.

"I am impressed by Customs' achievements in curbing the problems of illicit cigarettes, fuel, and piracy activities over the years," Mr Lee said, noting there has been a drastic drop in blackspots for such activities.

The number of blackspots for selling illicit cigarettes, fuel, and pirated discs has dropped from 100, 130 and 100 respectively in 2000, to 23, 27 and 80.

Customs' Control Points Command also has registered encouraging results in combating cross-boundary smuggling activities. Up to September, 28,977 cases were recorded, a rise of 105% from 14,092 cases in the same period in last year.

In protecting revenue generated from cigarette and fuel sales, the Revenue & General Investigation Bureau detected 3,849 cases in the first three quarters of this year, compared with 1,670 cases in the same period last year.