The Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department and the Customs Administration of Japan pledge to strengthen co-operation in fighting transnational customs crimes by signing a Customs Co-operative Arrangement today (January 8).

The Commissioner of Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, Mr Richard Yuen, and the Director-General of Japan Customs and Tariff Bureau, Mr Yukiyasu Aoyama, signed the arrangement at a signing ceremony.

¡§The Co-operative Arrangement signifies our mutual commitment to elevate our relationship to a new platform as well as our determination to foster stronger co-operation,¡¨ Mr Yuen said at the ceremony.

The signing of the Co-operative Arrangement marked the common wish of both Administrations to co-operate more closely in various areas, including fighting against smuggling and drug trafficking and protecting intellectual property rights through the arrangements of mutual administrative assistance.

So far, Hong Kong Customs has signed the Customs Co-operative Arrangements with 11 Customs Administrations, including the General Administration of Customs of the People¡¦s Republic of China.

Commissioner of Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, Mr Richard Yuen (left), and Director-General of Japan Customs and Tariff Bureau, Mr Yukiyasu Aoyama, sign a Customs Co-operative Arrangement to strengthen co-operation in fighting transnational customs crimes.

Commissioner of Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, Mr Richard Yuen (left), and Director-General of Japan Customs and Tariff Bureau, Mr Yukiyasu Aoyama, at the Customs Co-operative Arrangement Signing Ceremony. The Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department and the Customs Administration of Japan pledge to strengthen co-operation in fighting transnational customs crimes by signing the Customs Co-operative Arrangement.

Ends/Tuesday, January 8, 2008