The "Pan-PRD Customs Trade Facilitation Forum cum Regional Customs Commissioners Joint Conference" co-organised by the Hong Kong Customs and the General Administration of Customs (GAC) of the People’s Republic of China was held on 10 and 11 May 2007 in Hong Kong.  The Forum was the largest-ever exchange activity for the Customs administrations in the region and was one of the major celebrations for the 10th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.  It marks a milestone of close Customs co-operation in the Pan-PRD region.

CE: Speed up electronic platform
Officiating at the opening ceremony of the Forum, the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, spoke highly of the importance of the Pan-PRD regional co-operation.  He called on the Mainland and Hong Kong Customs to keep pace with the global trend of using electronic data interchange for Customs clearance through mutual co-operation and to speed up the development of an electronic platform.

He noted that C&ED has played an important role in the economic development blueprint of the Pan-PRD region, and has served as a bridge connecting our country with the world in promoting economic activities between different areas and expediting the passenger and cargo flow.

Mr Tsang, together with Minister of General Administration of Customs of the PRC, Mr Mu Xinsheng, and other officiating guests kick-off the opening ceremony. From left: Commissioner of Customs and Excise of Hong Kong, Mr Timothy Tong; Assistant Minister of Commerce of PRC, Mr Chong Quan; Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC in the HKSAR, Mr Lu Xinhua; Vice-Minister of the General Administration of Customs of PRC (GAC) and Director General of GuangDong Sub-Administration of the GAC, Mr Liu Wenjie; Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Gao Siren; the Chief Executive of HKSAR, Mr Donald Tsang; Minister of the GAC, Mr Mu Xinsheng; Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose SK Lee; Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and MacaoAffairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhou Bo; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Ms Guo Li; Director-General of Anti-Smuggling Bureau of the GAC, Mr Lu Bin, and Director-General of Macao Customs Service, Mr Choi Lai-hang. Minister of General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, Mr Mu Xinsheng, delivering a keynote speech at the Forum on May 10, 2007. Commissioner of Customs and Excise of Hong Kong, Mr Timothy Tong (left), introducing officiating guests and giving an overview of the Forum.

Minister Mu: Simplify clearance procedure
Minister Mu Xinsheng of the GAC said in the Forum that a multi-layered
and multi-faceted “9 + 2” working relationship in the Pan-PRD had emerged in the past three years.  With work pragmatically carried out, remarkable achievements had been made.

He said that in 2007, the GAC would continue to improve the infrastructure of the ports, simplify customs clearance procedures, create a legal and
convenient environment for clearance and establish a good partnership with the various import/export enterprises in the Pan-PRD region.  GAC would actively put into practice the CEPA measures and enhance enforcement cooperation with the Hong Kong and Macao customs.

Over 1200 representatives from the Customs Administrations, commercial and trade, maritime, logistics and academic sectors of the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao participated in the Forum. They reviewed the present situation of the Pan-PRD regional co-operation from different perspectives and contributed their views on the prospects and the way forward for regional development. 

After consolidating views from all sides and careful deliberation, Customs Administrations of the three places issued a Joint Declaration of the Customs Administrations in the Pan-PRD region on 10 May.  The tripartite parties announced that Customs co-operation in the Pan-PRD region would be further strengthened, and a series of initiatives for customs clearance facilitation would be implemented.

From Left: Executive Director of Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Mr Frederick Lam; Assistant Commissioner (Excise and Operation Support), Mr Luke Au Yeung, Chief Executive of Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, Mr Philip Chen; Chairman of the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Society, Hon Mrs Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee; Director-General of Macao Customs Service, Mr Choi Lai-hang; Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Commerce and Industry), Miss Yvonne Choi; Vice-Minister of the General Administration of Customs of PRC (GAC) and Director Generalof GuangDong Sub-Administration of the GAC, Mr Liu Wenjie; Minister of the GAC, Mr Mu Xinsheng; Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr. Joseph WP Wong ; Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhou Bo; Commissioner of Customs and Excise of Hong Kong, Mr Timothy Tong; Director-General of Anti-Smuggling Bureau of the GAC, Mr Lu Bin; Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Excise of Hong Kong, Mr Lawrence Wong; Deputy Director General of GuangDong Sub-Administration of the GAC, Mr Zhao Min; Assistant Director-General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Ng Kuok-heng; and President of the China Merchants Group, Dr Fu Yuning.

Eight Co-operation Projects
At the Regional Customs Commissioners Joint Conference held on 11 May, a Letter of Intent for the Implementation of Eight Co-operation Projects was signed.  Agreement was reached on eight co-operation projects, covering cross-boundary express clearance, Shenzhen-Macao shipping routes, mechanism for enhanced customs co-operation in anti-smuggling operations, protection of intellectual property rights and training for customs personnel.

On behalf of Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao Customs respectively, Vice Minister of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, Mr Liu Wenjie (middle); Commissioner of Customs and Excise of Hong Kong, Mr Timothy Tong (left); and Director-General of Macao Customs Service, Mr Choi Lai-hang (right), signed a letter of intent on eight co-operation projects for enhancing Customs clearance and economic development in the Pan-Pearl River Delta region on May 11, 2007.

Our objectives on customs clearance
The achievements of the Pan-PRD Customs Trade Facilitation Forum not only reaffirm the support of the general community for customs service, but also serve as a positive guidance to the department in its long-term development.  Our objectives are:

• The operation of customs clearance must be in synchronization with the standard modus operandi of the chain of supply of international trade, so as to achieve convergence in regional clearance, to provide convenient clearance arrangements to trading partners who have met the requirements, and to raise the levels of transportation efficiency and safety of international trade.
• To employ sophisticated technologies in the development of our electronic clearance systems; and to keep abreast of the main trend in global logistics development.
• To examine various measures to speed up customs clearance, with a view to introducing an innovative mode of clearance management.

In the context of the eight co-operation projects, the Hong Kong Customs   will work towards three specific aims in 2007. 

First, we will strive for incorporation into the country’s list of “e-ports” and to integrate with the electronic platform of customs agencies in the Mainland; thereby achieving a seamless e-clearance between the two sides.

Second, we will strengthen and enhance Hong Kong Customs role as a bridge linking up the domestic and foreign markets of the country. 

The way forward
The year 2007 marks the joyous occasion of the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong’s reunification with the motherland, as well as a milestone for the future development of the department.  The resounding success of the Pan-PRD Customs Trade Facilitation Forum, the commissioning of the Shenzhen Bay Port in the middle of 2007 and the Legco’s passage of the Import and Export (Amendment) Bill 2007 for the development of road cargo information system have added fresh impetus to the portfolio of our work and set the directions and targets of the department’s future development.

The officiating guests viewing the model of Shenzhen Bay Port Passenger Terminal Building before the ceremony. (Pictured from left are Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose SK Lee; Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Gao Siren; Vice-Minister of the GAC, Mr Liu Wenjie; the Chief Executive of HKSAR, Mr Donald Tsang; Minister of GAC, Mr Mu Xinsheng, and Commissioner of Customs and Excise of Hong Kong, Mr Timothy Tong. Briefing them is Director General Shenzhen Customs District of the People's Republic of China, Mr Zou Zhiwu (first right). Minister of the General Administration of Customs(GAC) of the People's Republic of China, Mr Mu Xinsheng, visited Customs and Excise Training School on May 11, 2007 and shared his working experience in GAC with Hong Kong Customs officers.

Globalization and regional economic integration are prevailing trends around the world.  To C&ED, the enormous potential of the Mainland’s booming economy, together with the “11th Five-year Plan” of the nation and the Pan-PRD regional co-operation have brought forth unprecedented challenges and ample room for development.  Seeing this prospect, also in face of the increasing cross-boundary cargo and passenger flows, we have to discharge the dual missions of law enforcement and trade facilitation.

Being the enforcement authority guarding the gateway of the HKSAR, C&ED also serves as a bridge and tie connecting the country’s market to the overseas. We are playing a dominant role in promoting the development of the national and regional economies. 

The C&ED has been established for nearly a century.  Dear colleagues, we have to make the best of this golden opportunity.  Let us join hands to move ahead at this significant moment and strive for a more glorious and splendid future for the department.

Timothy TONG Hin-ming
Commissioner of Customs & Excise