The Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC, and the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Roy Tang, officiated at a cocktail reception today (January 20) to celebrate the 2017 International Customs Day (ICD).
This year, the World Customs Organization (WCO) sets the theme of ICD to be "Data Analysis", with the slogan "Data Analysis for Effective Border Management". It encourages Customs administrations around the globe to enhance data analysis and application with a view to further increasing the efficacy of border management.
Officiating at the reception, Mr Yuen highlighted the importance of data analysis. Globalisation and technological advances are changing the world landscape and human activities. Customs offences are becoming more transnational and the business sector demands more efficient and facilitative services. There is a pressing need to explore data analysis in the context of customs management and control.
On the other aspect, Mr Yuen said Hong Kong Customs will shoulder the responsibility to enforce the future reporting system on the physical cross-boundary transportation of large quantities of currency and bearer negotiable instruments at the 12 control points, adding that this is an important effort to fulfill Hong Kong’s international obligations to tackle the growing global concern of terrorist financing and money laundering.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Tang said Hong Kong Customs is one of the first Customs administrations in the world to adopt Risk Management approach in its daily clearance of incoming/outgoing passengers, import/export cargo and conveyances as well as postal parcels. Through the extensive application of advanced technology in clearance and enforcement systems, Customs officers draw up useful risk indicators to assist the profiling work and to enhance targeting accuracy of the frontline officers. He also stressed that with the development of the Trade Single Window by the Hong Kong Government, Hong Kong Customs will be able to perform more targeted enforcement work for efficient Customs clearance whereas traders will enjoy smoother and seamless cargo clearance service.
Hong Kong Customs has celebrated the ICD since Hong Kong became a member of the WCO in 1987. At the reception, Mr Yuen presented WCO Certificates of Merit to officers of Hong Kong Customs who had made significant contributions towards effective border management through data analysis.
About 380 guests, including Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, government officials, Consuls General, foreign Customs attaches and representatives from Customs administrations of the Mainland and Macau, as well as private sector stakeholders, attended the reception.
Ends/Friday, January 20, 2017
