Commissioner of Customs and Excise pays courtesy visit to Director-General of Lao Customs Department (with photos)

     The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho, yesterday (July 29) paid a courtesy call on the Director-General of Lao Customs Department, Mr Phoukhaokham Vannavongxay, in Vientiane, Laos, and was invited to attend a luncheon to exchange views on reinforcing communications and enhancing co-operation.
      
     During the meeting, the two discussed co-operation in various customs areas, including combating smuggling activities, exchanging intelligence and information, and capacity building, for establishing a closer partnership between the two Customs authorities.

     Ms Ho also mentioned that Hong Kong Customs has officially assumed the role of Vice-Chairperson for the Asia/Pacific (A/P) region of the World Customs Organization for a two-year term starting this month. Ms Ho expressed the hope that the strengthened collaboration with the Lao Customs Department would further promote the regional development agenda. Hong Kong Customs will organise various regional activities for members of the A/P region, including conferences, seminars, and specialised workshops on issues of concern. She also took the opportunity to invite the Lao Customs Department to participate in these relevant activities in the future.
      
     On the same day, witnessed by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos, Mr Saleumxay Kommasith, Ms Ho also exchanged a Customs Co-operative Arrangement with Mr Vannavongxay for deepening intelligence exchanges and information sharing, cracking down on cross-boundary crimes with joint forces, and facilitating trade.