The Tenth Hong Kong, China - European Union (EU) Joint Customs Co-operation Committee (JCCC) meeting was held today (April 27) in Hong Kong. The meeting was co-chaired by the Assistant Commissioner (Excise and Strategic Support) of the Customs and Excise Department, Mr David Fong, and the Director of Security, Safety, Trade Facilitation, Rules of Origin and International Cooperation of the Directorate General of Taxation and Customs Union of the European Commission, Mr Antonis Kastrissianakis.
The meeting reviewed the joint efforts taken to facilitate legitimate trade and uphold enforcement co-operation between the two sides. In view of the increasing volume of trade between Hong Kong and the EU, members also discussed further co-operation in enhancing supply chain security by implementing Phase III of the Smart and Secure Trade Lanes Pilot Project next year and taking active steps to explore the mutual recognition of respective Authorized Economic Operator Programmes with a view to abling traders to enjoy more clearance benefits at an international level.
On preservation of supply chain security, the meeting examined the enforcement strategy to combat the illicit trade of goods. An Action Plan on Cooperation in the Customs Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights between Hong Kong, China and the EU was signed at the meeting to enhance bilateral co-operation on intellectual property rights protection and enforcement. Both sides also agreed to continue developing mutual collaboration on revenue protection.
The 18-member EU delegation attending the JCCC meeting comprised representatives of the Taxation and Customs Union of the European Commission and the EU Presidency in Brussels, the Head of EU Office to Hong Kong and Macao, and Customs Attachs of the EU Member States.
The JCCC oversees the implementation of an Agreement on Co-operation and Mutual Administrative Assistance on Customs Matters signed by the two sides in 1999. Today's meeting was the 10th in a series of biennial bilateral meetings. The signing of the Action Plan at the meeting marked another major milestone and reaffirmed the close ties between Hong Kong, China and the EU.
Ends/Monday, April 27, 2015
