The Customs and Excise Department hosted a reception today (January 26) to mark the 2006 International Customs Day. The theme for this year is "Safer World Trade through Security and Facilitation".
The Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose Lee, is the Principal Guest for the occasion.
More than 300 guests, including Vice Minister of General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and Director General of Guangdong Sub-Customs Administration, Mr Sun Songpu; Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Frederick Ma; Legislative Council Members; senior government officials; Consuls General; foreign Customs attaches; and Customs representatives from the Mainland and Macau; and local dignitaries, attended the reception at the Customs and Excise Service Senior Officers' Mess.
This is the 19th year the Department celebrates the International Customs Day since Hong Kong became a member of the World Customs Organization (WCO) in 1987.
At the ceremony, 14 officers of Hong Kong Customs were each awarded a WCO Certificate of Merit for their significant contributions towards securing and facilitating the world trade.
WCO is an independent and inter-governmental body with the principal objective to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations. Since its inception in 1952, the membership of the WCO has now grown to 169.
Customs administrations worldwide hold annual ceremony in January to celebrate the establishment of the WCO.
Ends/Thursday, January 26, 2006