Hong Kong Customs today (June 1) held an open day at the Customs Headquarters Building (CHB) to launch a series of events in celebration of the 110th anniversary of the department's establishment. Officiating at the opening ceremony, the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Hermes Tang, greeted about 100 representatives of the department's working partners and introduced them to the different functions and duties of Hong Kong Customs. He also took the opportunity to review the past achievements as well as to look ahead to the future development of the department.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Tang said that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China and the 110th anniversary of the department's establishment. As the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has been announced, apart from stepping up the current duties, Hong Kong Customs will also develop in accordance with the smart customs blueprint to help ensure the implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle.
The theme for celebrating the 110th anniversary of the department's establishment is "110 Years of Commitment, Ongoing Pursuit of Excellence". Mr Tang said that Hong Kong Customs performs a wide range of duties, from trade facilitation to stringent law enforcement, and striking a balance is highly important for the department. Hong Kong Customs has carried on its fine tradition of providing excellent public services and will continue to strengthen its work.
In order to help the participants to gain a better understanding of the development history, inheritance and law enforcement of Hong Kong Customs, guided tours were held today to present various facilities of the CHB, including the exhibition gallery and the indoor firing range. Attendees also watched a performance by the Customs and Excise Band and a demonstration by Customs detector dogs.
They were also briefed on the role played by Hong Kong Customs in implementing the "one country, two systems" principle in respect of customs clearance and trade facilitation, including the "co-location" and "separate locations" modes of clearance adopted at the West Kowloon Station of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Control Point respectively, as well as the development of the Hong Kong Authorized Economic Operator Programme.
Members of the public can apply for admission tickets by email at opendayticket@customs.gov.hk from today to June 9. They can also collect admission tickets (maximum of four tickets for each person) at the reception located on the Ground Floor of the CHB at 222 Java Road, North Point, at 9am on June 16. Admission tickets will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis while stocks last. For more information of the CHB Open Day, please visit www.customs.gov.hk/en/whats_new/openday/index.html.
In addition to the CHB Open Day, Hong Kong Customs will hold other celebration events within the year, including a parade and a charity sports competition, to offer good opportunities for members of the public to learn more about the department's work under the "one country, two systems" principle. Preparation is ongoing and details will be released when available.
Ends/Saturday, June 1, 2019
