Commissioner of Customs and Excise Leads Delegation to Attend APEC Customs-Business Dialogue in Dalian

Commissioner of Customs and Excise visits Dalian and Qingdao and attends APEC Customs-Business Dialogue

The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, led a delegation to visit Dalian and Qingdao from August 19 to 22, and attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Customs-Business Dialogue held in Dalian.

Coinciding with this year being the APEC "China Year" and with the nation hosting the meetings, Mr Chan led a delegation on August 20 to attend the Strategic Dialogue and related events of the APEC Customs-Business Dialogue, engaging in in-depth discussions with Mainland officials, Customs leaders from APEC economies, and business representatives on championing technology and innovation, as well as building smart Customs co-operation partnerships.

On the sidelines of the Dialogue, Mr Chan met with the Director General of the National Customs Service of the Republic of Chile, Ms Alejandra Arriaza Loeb, and signed the Customs Co-operative Arrangement to strengthen co-operation on information exchanges in combating transnational crimes, and to promote closer ties in trade facilitation. Hong Kong Customs has so far signed 36 similar arrangements with customs administrations worldwide. The signing of the Arrangement signifies the continuous effort of Hong Kong Customs in promoting international customs co-operation and fostering multilateral trade.

In addition, Mr Chan also met with the Minister of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC), Ms Sun Meijun, in Dalian to exchange views on further deepening collaboration between Mainland Customs and Hong Kong Customs. He expressed gratitude to the GACC for their consistent and strong support for the work of Hong Kong Customs at the meeting.

During the visit to Dalian and Qingdao, Mr Chan met with the Deputy Director General of the Dalian Customs District, Mr Wen Siquan, and the Director General of the Qingdao Customs District, Mr Shen Yang, respectively. He also conducted on-site visits to local customs facilities, including the Dayaowan Customs House of the Dalian Customs District, Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport and the automated terminal of Qingdao Port, to learn about local Customs clearance procedures and advanced regulatory technology.

Mr Chan stated that Hong Kong Customs will continue to actively promote the development of Smart Customs and leverage innovative technology to enhance trade facilitation and safeguard the gateway of the country, thereby contributing to the high-quality development of the country and regional economic and trade prosperity.

The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, led a delegation to visit Dalian and Qingdao from August 19 to 22, and attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Customs-Business Dialogue held in Dalian. Photo shows Mr Chan (left) meeting with the Director General of the Qingdao Customs District, Mr Shen Yang (right), in Qingdao on August 21. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, led a delegation to visit Dalian and Qingdao from August 19 to 22, and attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Customs-Business Dialogue held in Dalian. Photo shows Mr Chan (centre, front row), accompanied by the Deputy Director General of the Dalian Customs District, Mr Wen Siquan (third right, front row), visiting the Dayaowan Customs House of the Dalian Customs District on August 20. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, led a delegation to visit Dalian and Qingdao from August 19 to 22, and attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Customs-Business Dialogue held in Dalian. Photo shows Mr Chan (fifth left, front row) and other participating delegates. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, led a delegation to visit Dalian and Qingdao from August 19 to 22, and attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Customs-Business Dialogue held in Dalian. Photo shows Mr Chan (right) signing the Customs Co-operative Arrangement with the Director General of the National Customs Service of the Republic of Chile, Ms Alejandra Arriaza Loeb (left), on the sidelines of the APEC Customs-Business Dialogue on August 20. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, led a delegation to visit Dalian and Qingdao from August 19 to 22, and attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Customs-Business Dialogue held in Dalian. Photo shows Mr Chan (second left) attending the Strategic Dialogue of the APEC Customs-Business Dialogue in Dalian on August 20. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by SEE at APEC FSMM discussion session on Food Security Empowered by Technological Innovation and Digital Agriculture in Hangzhou

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, at the discussion session entitled Food Security Empowered by Technological Innovation and Digital Agriculture at the 11th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Food Security Ministerial Meeting in Hangzhou today (August 25):

Thank you Chair.

Hong Kong, China, has been actively promoting the modernisation and sustainable development of local agriculture. Our efforts focus on enhancing productivity, strengthening climate resilience, and reducing reliance on labour through technology and innovation.

To make the best use of our limited land resources, we are actively promoting the development of urban farming.

Urban farms adopt advanced facilities such as smart greenhouses or indoor cultivation systems to carry out "multi-layer farming" for year-round production, as well as high quality and fresh agricultural produce with reduced carbon footprints.

Through educational activities conducted at urban farms, the public are also provided with farming experience, thereby enhancing the quality and livability of urban life and enabling the co-development of agriculture and urbanisation.

We actively facilitate the trade to develop urban farming in a multipronged manner, with a view to driving the overall sustainable development and industrial diversification of the local agricultural sector.

Fellow APEC economies and friends, Hong Kong, China, is ready to share experiences, and collaborate with each other to advance agricultural innovation, strengthen food security, and promote shared prosperity across the region. Thank you.

Speech by SEE at APEC FSMM discussion session on Food Security Empowered by Technological Innovation and Digital Agriculture in Hangzhou Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases