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The Customs and Excise Department hosted a reception today (Wednesday) to mark the International Customs Day in 2000.

Officiating the event were the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, and the Secretary for Security, Mrs Regina Ip.

"This is the 13th year Hong Kong has celebrated the International Customs Day since it became a member of the World Customs Organization (WCO) in 1987," said a spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department.

Since its establishment, the WCO has been promoting customs co-operation and forging closer links among customs officials of different customs administrations.

More than 400 guests, including Executive and Legislative Council members, senior government officials, Consuls-General, local dignitaries, Foreign Customs Attaches, and Customs representatives from Mainland China and Macau, attended today's reception at the Customs and Excise Senior Officers' Mess.

Photo: The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, the Secretary for Security, Mrs Regina Ip, and the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr John Tsang Chun-wah, making a toast at the International Customs Day reception.

End/Wednesday, January 26, 2000

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