The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho, yesterday (November 15) visited Nanchang, Jiangxi, and attended today (November 16) the Promotion Seminar on Customs' Trade Facilitation Measures co-organised by Hong Kong Customs and Nanchang Customs District, in which trade facilitation measures by the two Customs administrations were introduced to representatives from around 60 local trade and logistics companies.
Speaking at the Seminar, Ms Ho said that Jiangxi and Hong Kong have all along been maintaining a close economic and trade relation. With its superior business environment and well-developed infrastructure, Hong Kong is an ideal platform for enterprises in Jiangxi to connect with the international market. In 2022, the total value of goods exported from Jiangxi to Hong Kong and transshipped through Hong Kong to other regions reached Renminbi (RMB) 42.66 billion and RMB13.35 billion respectively, accounting for 11 per cent of total local exports and making Hong Kong the second largest export market for goods of Jiangxi. At the same time, Hong Kong is a major supply source of Jiangxi. Goods imported or transshipped from Hong Kong to Jiangxi amounted to RMB710 million and RMB57.76 billion respectively last year, contributing to 36 per cent of total imports of goods. It bears testament to the huge trade potential between the two places.
Officers of Hong Kong Customs also introduced the Intermodal Transport in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Single E-lock Scheme in the Seminar, and explored the prospect of extending the Scheme to neighbouring provinces of Guangdong based on the experience of implementing the Scheme in Hunan. Under the Scheme, Hong Kong Customs and the Mainland Customs can save duplicated inspection of the same consignment and increase the efficiency of customs clearance process. Representatives of Nanchang Customs highlighted the promotion facilitation initiatives in four aspects, namely efficient and smooth logistics networks, trade facilitation, efficiency improvement, as well as foreign trade innovation.
Ms Ho later visited the Smart Customs facilities of Nanchang Customs to study the latest developments of various technologies, including smart supervision of artwork and application of Augmented Reality (AR) technology in remote supervision of supply of live pigs to Hong Kong and Macao.
During her visit, Ms Ho also met with the Standing Committee Member of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and Head of the United Front Work Department of the Jiangxi Committee of the CPC, Mr Huang Xizhong; the Deputy Secretary of CPC Nanchang Municipal Committee and Mayor of the Nanchang Municipal Government, Mr Wan Guangming; and the Director General in Nanchang Customs District, Ms Dang Yingjie, respectively. In the meetings, Ms Ho stressed that Hong Kong Customs will fully dovetail with national strategies and actively integrate into the overall development of the country, and is committed to promoting the interconnectedness of logistics with the Mainland Customs, in order to bring about vast business opportunities to enterprises as well as prosperity and stability of the GBA. Ms Ho said she hoped the two Customs administrations will continue to strengthen mutual co-operation to accelerate the development of logistics and trade, and expressed her gratitude for the dedicated support and co-ordination of Nanchang Customs in co-organising the Seminar.
Ms Ho will conclude her visit and return to Hong Kong tomorrow (November 17).
Ends/Thursday, November 16, 2023
