The three-day 6th World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Canine Forum hosted by Hong Kong Customs opened today (March 5). The opening ceremony was officiated by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho; and the WCO Director for Compliance and Facilitation, Mr Pranab Kumar Das.
The Global Canine Forum is an important WCO global event, which has been held biennially since 2011, focusing on sharing of best practices and exchange of skills in the utilisation of canines in customs work.
At the opening ceremony, Mr Tang welcomed over 90 participants from about 40 customs administrations for joining the Forum in Hong Kong, which is being held in Asia for the first time. He highlighted the pivotal roles of detector dogs in supporting customs enforcement duties as well as promoting anti-drugs message to young people.
Ms Ho, in her remarks, elaborated on the significant developments of the Hong Kong Customs Canine Force in recent years, namely establishing a canine breeding centre, attaining the status as a WCO Regional Dog Training Centre, developing the Smart Collar and the Smart K9 Management System, etc.
Addressing the ceremony, Mr Das encouraged participants to make the best use of the Forum to share expertise and foster actions to improve Customs operations. He also thanked Hong Kong Customs for its consistent support to the international Customs community by hosting this event.
About 150 guests, including delegations from the Mainland and overseas, officials of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), representatives of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Consuls-General, foreign Customs attachés and local working partners, attended the opening ceremony.
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