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Twelve Customs officers today (March 26) returned to Hong Kong after attending a two-week training course in Shanghai.

The course, the second China Customs Training Course, was run by Shanghai Customs College in accordance with a bilateral cooperation agreement between Customs General Administration of the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong Customs.

"The training course, held from March 13 to 25, has raised the team members' individual quality in all aspects within the Customs profession," said the team leader, Assistant Superintendent Sunny Ho Sang-lee.

Mr Ho noted that the training course had also strengthened their knowledge on the features of China Customs, latest development of Customs General Administration, and the fruitful results of the previous economic reform of China.

"Apart from enhancing our mutual understanding and cooperation, it also provided us with a valuable opportunity to exchange experience with Mainland Customs," he went on.

Through the training, the officers have a better understanding about the establishment, organisation, functions and management of Customs General Administration. They also grasped the professional knowledge on China's Customs business, including Customs clearance, collection of Customs tariff, taxes and duties, Customs auditing, anti-smuggling, investigation, cooperation with other Customs Administrations, and Chinese laws.

"We paid tribute to Shanghai Customs College, which had kindly offered its experienced professors, coupled with subject officers from Customs General Administration and specialised professors from Shanghai City Communist Party College, to organise a series of seminars," Mr Ho said.

The team, comprising one Assistant Superintendent, three senior Customs Inspectors, four Customs Inspectors, two Chief Customs Officers, one Senior Trade Controls Officer and one Trade Controls Officer, participated in 13 specific seminars held in Shanghai Customs College on various topics, including the establishment, organisation, functions and business of Customs General Administration, China's Customs tariff and laws, as well as China's economic open policy and reform.

Upon the arrangement of Shanghai Customs College, the officers also visited Pudong Customs, Hangzhou Customs and Shangxing Customs.

They have also toured the new Pudong International Airport, Siemens Shanghai Mobile Communications Limited, Shanghai Museum and Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall.

End/Sunday, March 26, 2000

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