To celebrate the 45th anniversary of the country's reform and opening-up, "Customs YES" organised its first exchange tour to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) on March 18 and 19, following the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland. Led by the Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Intelligence and Investigation), Mr Mark Woo, 36 youth members visited Shenzhen and gained a deeper understanding of the modernisation in different aspects and the opportunities brought by the rapid development of the motherland.
On March 18, the delegation set off at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point to experience the fast customs clearance procedures under the co-location arrangement. Upon their arrival, the group visited the control centre of Shenzhen Customs office to learn about its development and equipment, and how the Customs of both sides co-operate in various aspects, including trade facilitation, opening of boundary control points, and combating cross-boundary smuggling activities. Later, the group visited the office of a fintech company to understand how it makes use of information technology to bring convenience to the livelihood and consumption behaviour of people in the GBA. The group also visited the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Co-operation Zone (Co-operation Zone) with members of the Shenzhen Youth Federation to learn about the planning and development as well as technology development opportunities in the Co-operation Zone. At the same time, young people of both sides could enhance mutual exchanges, share experiences and build friendships.
On the following morning, the delegation visited the Guangming Tour Farm, where they learned about the stringent inspection and quarantine work conducted by Mainland authorities on daily necessities, such as fresh vegetables and food products, before being imported into Hong Kong.
In the afternoon, the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho, and directors of the Executive Committee of "Customs YES" joined the delegation to visit the Shenzhen Museum, where they were given a guided tour at the Reform and Opening-Up Exhibition Hall. The delegation were impressed by the remarkable achievements of the GBA since the adoption of the policies of reform and opening-up. The tour was rounded off with a visit to the headquarters of Shenzhen Media Group, where the delegation had a taste of conducting mock-up live broadcasts and simulating control of helicopters under the green screens.
In concluding the exchange tour, Ms Ho said that Shenzhen was selected as the destination of this tour because of the close partnership between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The two places have benefited from the country's reform and opening-up, and have been in close co-operation in the past 45 years at various levels and areas. She hoped that both sides will continue to collaborate in youth development and create more opportunities for the personal and career pursuits of the young people in the GBA.
In the future, "Customs YES" will fully support the Youth Development Blueprint initiated by the Government and provide various exchange and internship programmes in other GBA and Mainland cities to broaden young people's horizons and deepen their understanding of the country and the world.
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