Hong Kong Commissioner of Customs and Excise Chan Tsz-tat signed memorandums of understanding with the heads of Saudi Arabia's customs authority and South Africa's revenue service to facilitate trade during the recent World Customs Organization meeting in Belgium.

Chan signed the MoUs while leading a delegation to the 92nd Session of the Policy Commission and the 145th/146th Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) Sessions of the WCO in Brussels from June 23 to 28.

Chan signed the MOU on the Mutual Recognition of Authorized Economic Operator Programmes (AEOs) with Governor of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority of Saudi Arabia Suhail bin Muhammad Abanmi on June 26¸ marking a significant step towards the extension of the AEO Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) network in the Middle East.

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The MoU not only strengthens the trade ties between the two places but also enhances the competitiveness of reciprocal AEOs to tap into overseas markets. It brings the total number of MRAs and MOUs ratified between Hong Kong Customs and other Customs administrations to 17.

On June 27, Chan also signed the MOU Regarding Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance with Commissioner of South African Revenue Service Edward Kieswetter to strengthen information sharing in the fight against cross-boundary crimes and to promote closer ties in trade facilitation.

Currently, Hong Kong Customs has signed 34 similar co-operative arrangements with the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, Macao Customs Service, and 32 overseas customs administrations.

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Gathering heads and senior officials from 186 Customs administrations around the world, the WCO meeting in Belgium provided a platform for Customs representatives to enforcement collaboration, international standards, trade facilitation, border security, capacity building, e-commerce, data strategy and Green Customs.

Hong Kong Customs, in the name of Hong Kong, China, was elected during the session as one of the Asia-Pacific representatives on the audit committee for the term of 2025 to 2027 to assist in examining the policies and procedures of the WCO.