The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho, and Vice Minister of General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) Ms Lv Weihong signed the Co-operative Arrangement on Smart Customs Development between the GACC and Hong Kong Customs during a high-level meeting held at the Customs Headquarters Building today (November 27).
Ms Ho welcomed Ms Lv's visit to Hong Kong Customs with her delegation and chaired the meeting with the delegation of the GACC. Ms Ho said that the signing of the Co-operative Arrangement lays a solid foundation for mutual co-operation with smart construction as the core. The integration of Smart Customs helps to expand the scope of cross-boundary collaboration between both Customs administrations and to facilitate the enhancement of governance systems and the governance of Hong Kong Customs, as well as serving as a major key for Hong Kong Customs in fostering the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Stressing that Hong Kong Customs will continue to deepen co-operation with the GACC, Ms Ho said Hong Kong Customs will also deepen and widen its role as a participant and contributor in promoting the development of the GBA in order to contribute to the prosperity and stability of the country.
The two Customs administrations also explored multiple co-operation issues in the meeting, including Smart Customs development, consumer goods safety, and mutual training.
On the same day, the delegation visited the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link to learn about Hong Kong Customs' passenger clearance operations. They will also tour the Customs Marine Base at Stonecutters Island and take a ride on sector patrol launch to visit sea-borne smuggling black spots tomorrow (November 28) to learn about the maritime enforcement work of Hong Kong Customs.
Ends/Monday, November 27, 2023
