Hong Kong customs, cargo industry sign MOU of customs clearance

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 ◆ Hong Kong customs, cargo industry sign MOU of customs clearance

The Hong Kong Customs recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the cargo industry to further enhance the efficiency of customs cargo clearance.

Representing the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Assistant Commissioner (Boundary and Ports) Lawrence Wong Sau-pui signed the MOU under the "Watch-Out Program" with 16 representatives from associations and commercial operators of container terminals, air freight terminals and the cross-boundary transport industry.

Wong said, "The 'Watch-Out Program' is a forward-looking initiative of the Hong Kong Customs, aiming at enhancing its partnership with the logistics industry, and heightening the awareness and ability of risk management in the freight industry and customs cargo clearance."

Through the "Watch-Out Program", Hong Kong Customs hopes to promote closer cooperation with the industry which will lead to enhanced efficiency of the overall customs cargo clearance, and at the same time, the speeding up of cargo flow through the reduction of the cargo examination rate.

Under the MOU, both the Hong Kong Customs and the cargo handling and delivery industry agreed to cooperate and apply risk management in their procedures pertaining the cargo handling, delivery and clearance mechanism with a view to detecting and preventing customs offenses and smuggling.

Both sides will provide related training to the staff of the Program participants so as to enhance understanding of each other's procedures and facilities.

They will appoint designated staff for establishing effective communication and consultation channels; and exchange information and transfer cargo data and customs instruction in advance concerning cargo shipments for the purpose of trade facilitation and the detection and prevention of customs offenses.