Hong Kong Authorized Economic Operator Programme marks new milestone (with photos)

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     The Acting Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Jimmy Tam, presented certificates to 10 new members of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme at a presentation ceremony held at the Customs Headquarters Building today (February 2) in recognition of their trusted partnership status under the programme. It was also announced at the ceremony that the Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) that Hong Kong signed earlier with Australia, Malaysia and Thailand would be fully implemented soon.

     The 10 newly accredited members are mainly Hong Kong enterprises engaged in the business of importing/exporting, manufacturing and freight forwarding.

     Hong Kong earlier signed MRAs with Australia, Malaysia and Thailand under which Hong Kong AEOs will enjoy speedy customs clearance when exporting commodities to the markets. It was formally announced at today's ceremony that the MRAs would be fully implemented on March 1 this year. The light-up ceremony officiated by Mr Tam and officials from the Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong, the Embassy of Malaysia in Beijing and the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Hong Kong signified a further extension of the AEO Programme in giving its members customs facilitation in overseas markets.

     Since its implementation in 2012, the Hong Kong AEO Programme has been keeping up its development all the time. The number of enterprises accredited as AEOs under the programme has now risen to 45 and they include multinational and small/medium-sized enterprises engaged in the business of importing/exporting, manufacturing, freight forwarding, terminal operation and warehouse trade in Hong Kong. The AEO Programme serves well to help Hong Kong enterprises exploring overseas markets, especially those along the routes of the Belt and Road Initiative.

     Hong Kong Customs' Senior Staff Officer of Supply Chain Security Management, Mr Mark Lee, also briefed the ceremony's participants of how the AEO Programme assists its members in opening up markets along the Belt and Road region.

     He said that with the department's targeted strategies in lining up MRAs with the economies along the Belt and Road region, Hong Kong AEOs can better explore the markets there by leveraging their edge of accredited status and speedy customs clearance privileges.

     Currently, Hong Kong Customs has ratified MRAs with eight Customs administrations of the Mainland, India, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan and Australia, among which six are along the Belt and Road region.

     About 150 guests, including Consuls and foreign Customs attachés and representatives from Hong Kong AEO members and trade associations, as well as private sector stakeholders, attended the ceremony today.

     A new video on the latest developments of the Hong Kong AEO Programme was also presented at the ceremony.

Ends/Friday, February 2, 2018
Issued at HKT 19:35

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The Acting Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Jimmy Tam (centre), is pictured with representatives of the 10 new Hong Kong Authorized Economic Operators at the Hong Kong Authorized Economic Operator certificate presentation ceremony today (February 2).

The Acting Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Jimmy Tam (front row, centre), is pictured with representatives of the Hong Kong Authorized Economic Operators at the Hong Kong Authorized Economic Operator certificate presentation ceremony today (February 2).

The Acting Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Jimmy Tam (first left); the Senior Staff Officer of Supply Chain Security Management, Mr Mark Lee (first right); the Consul (Australian Border Force) of the Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong, Mr Dean Hogarth (centre); the Customs Attaché of the Embassy of Malaysia in Beijing, Mr Misman Miskam (second right); and the Consul (Customs) of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Hong Kong, Mr Senis Pattanasiri (second left), are pictured at the light-up ceremony signifying the full implementation of Mutual Recognition Arrangements today (February 2).