Chiefs of the Hong Kong and New Zealand customs expressed willingness to further co-operation after the two sides held a two-day co-operation conference.
Comptroller of New Zealand Customs Service Robin Dare led a four-member delegation to attend the fourth co-operation conference between New Zealand and the Hong Kong customs held on Tuesday and Wednesday.
During the conference, Dare and Raymond Wong Hung-chium, Hong Kong's commissioner of Customs and Excise and head of the Hong Kong delegation, reaffirmed that co-operation of both administrations has been working satisfactorily and wish this close relationship to continue to flourish.
Both delegations updated each other on the recent development in legislation, modernization and reform programme, and the combat of illicit cigarette smuggling, the prevention and detection of intellectual property rights related offenses.
Both agreed to explore future possibility to organize training and visit programs for their officers. They also pledged to work closely together to promote trade facilitation and compliance regionally and internationally.
The conference was held under the auspices of the Co-operative Arrangement between the two Customs administrations signed in 1991. It is being held biennially and hosted by either administration alternatively.
(Xinhua News Agency October 25,2001)
