CHINA'S Customs authorities have moved to help distinguish pirates who pose as uniformed Customs officers to engage in maritime crime from the genuine officers. A China News Service (CNS) report said yesterday the State Administration of Customs had recently amended its anti-smuggling operations manual. Genuine anti-smuggling boats, it said, will have their body painted grey and their bridge white, with both sides emblazoned with the Chinese character, Zhongguohaiguan (China Customs). The side of the Government boat should be marked with a three-digit number. The CNS report said Customs officers would wear a black uniform during spring, autumn and winter. In summer, they would wear dark trousers with a white short-sleeved shirt. All Customs officers would wear a white cap bearing the national emblem and a black tie, and must show their work and inspection cards when conducting inspections, it said. The report said Customs officers would be empowered to open fire when suspected smugglers resisted inspection.
