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The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Clement Cheung, led a delegation to attend two high-level bilateral conferences in New Zealand and Australia from November 25 to today (November 27).
Meeting with officials of the New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS) in Auckland and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) in Canberra, Mr Cheung reached agreements with the two authorities to strengthen mutual support to effectively combat transnational crimes, particularly drug trafficking activities and emerging challenges brought about by e-commerce.
"While strengthening collaboration with Customs counterparts is a key element of our operational strategy, we are also keen to develop a stronger network with industry stakeholders, engaging them to join hands with us in fighting transnational crimes," said Mr Cheung.
In addition to enhancing enforcement partnership, the New Zealand and Australia counterparts also attached great importance to trade facilitation with Hong Kong through mutual recognition of the respective supply chain security programmes.
Affirming fruitful discussions on a wide range of issues, Mr Cheung signed a joint communique with the Comptroller (Chief Executive) of the NZCS, Ms Carolyn Tremain, after the completion of the conference on November 25.
At today's conference, Mr Cheung also signed a revised Customs Cooperative Arrangement (CCA) with the Chief Executive Officer of the ACBPS, Mr Roman Quaedvlieg, to foster a closer strategic partnership on various operational fronts between the two Administrations. The revised CCA will replace the existing Arrangement signed in 1992.
During his stay in Australia, Mr Cheung also took the opportunity to pay a courtesy call on the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, Mr Andrew Colvin, to exchange views on a strategic approach towards narcotics enforcement.
Ends/Thursday, November 27, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:15
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