The Customs and Excise Department of Hong Kong (C&ED) is hosting the Regional Customs High-level Drug Enforcement Forum in Hong Kong from February 13 to 16. Heads of various overseas law enforcement agencies showed support for the Forum and led delegations to participate. During the Forum, the C&ED held meetings with several heads of overseas law enforcement agencies in the Asia-Pacific region to help to improve mutual communications and co-operation, and enhance capabilities in combating regional drug trafficking and other smuggling activities.
On February 13 and 15, the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho, and the Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Management and Strategic Development), Mr Ellis Lai, respectively held meetings with heads of five overseas law enforcement agencies in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Narcotics Control Department of Japan, Korea Customs Service, Royal Customs and Excise Department of Brunei Darussalam, Maldives Customs Service and General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia. Apart from exchanging views on law enforcement co-operation, the C&ED and the law enforcement agencies of various countries also discussed bilateral co-operative arrangements, the Authorized Economic Operator Programme and other initiatives. These bilateral meetings had achieved fruitful results by promoting a thorough co-operation, intelligence and information exchange strategy in the region.
The delegations also visited the Computer Forensic Laboratory of C&ED, Customs Marine Base as well as other Customs facilities at Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong Container Terminals and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port.
Ends/Wednesday, February 15, 2023