The Annual Review Meeting between Hong Kong and Guangdong Customs was held in Zhaoqing, Guangdong today (August 28). The Hong Kong Customs delegation was headed by the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Clement Cheung, while the Guangdong Customs delegation was headed by the Vice Minister of the General Administration of Customs and Director General of Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, Mr Lu Bin.
The meeting reviewed the co-operation between the Guangdong and Hong Kong Customs on trade facilitation, anti-smuggling, anti-narcotics, intellectual property rights protection and staff training over the past year. The two Customs administrations also recognised the remarkable achievements that have resulted from close co-operation on various fronts.
The two sides also mapped out and endorsed the Co-operation Plan for the coming year. On customs clearance, the two sides will undertake to further explore and augment the various trade facilitation initiatives. On anti-smuggling, Hong Kong Customs will continue to co-ordinate with the Guangdong Sub-Administration of Customs in reinforcing intelligence exchange and mounting joint enforcement operations in Guangdong Province so as to combat smuggling activities associated with illicit cigarettes, refined oil, marked oil and other high-risk smuggling commodities, at the same time strengthening regional co-operation on anti-narcotics and the protection of intellectual property rights.
They also agreed to provide each other with training programmes and to arrange visits with a view to enhancing the enforcement and management capabilities of officers of the two Customs administrations.
Ends/Tuesday, August 28 2012