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The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, and the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Clement Cheung, officiated at a cocktail reception today (January 26) to celebrate the 2015 International Customs Day (ICD).
This year, the World Customs Organization (WCO) set the ICD theme as "Coordinated Border Management (CBM)", with the slogan "An inclusive approach for connecting stakeholders".
Officiating at the reception, Mr Tsang highlighted the importance of CBM and said, "CBM is a multilateral approach to lowering business costs, removing trade barriers and stimulating balanced growth. It is also central to international efforts in eradicating illegal activities, enhancing customs efficiency and nurturing a culture of compliance with the law, and customs-business partnership."
Quoting Hong Kong's facilitation measures as well as the infrastructural development of a number of major cross-border projects as examples, Mr Tsang elaborated on how CBM contributes to strengthening Hong Kong's role as an international trading and logistics hub.
Also speaking of CBM, Mr Cheung said Hong Kong Customs has developed a strategic partnership with other Customs administrations, government agencies and business stakeholders to better border control and facilitate legitimate trade.
In addition, Hong Kong Customs has continued expanding its international network to enhance intelligence exchange and forge alliances at multiple levels with a view to combating transnational crimes and facilitating trade.
At the reception, Mr Tsang presented the WCO Certificate of Merit to 19 officers of Hong Kong Customs and a representative of Hongkong Post in recognition of their outstanding achievement and significant contribution towards realising the concept of CBM.
Some 320 guests, including Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, government officials, Consuls General, foreign Customs attaches and representatives from Customs administrations of the Mainland and Macau, as well as private sector stakeholders, also joined the celebration.
Celebrating ICD has been an annual event of Hong Kong Customs since it became a member of the World Customs Organization in 1987.
Ends/Monday, January 26, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:40
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