â€‹The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho, from December 3 to 5, led a delegation that included the Assistant Commissioner (Excise and Strategic Support) of Customs and Excise, Mr Rudy Hui, the Assistant Commissioner (World Customs Organization) of Customs and Excise, Mr Li Kin-kei, and other Customs officers to attend the 91st Session of the Policy Commission of the World Customs Organization (WCO) in Cape Town, South Africa, and visited Saudi Arabia on December 6 and 7. During the meeting and visit, a number of customs co-operation agreements were reached with other customs administrations, including the conclusion of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) with the South African Customs, AEO MRA Action Plans with Chilean Customs and Peruvian Customs, and a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance (MOU) with Saudi Arabia Customs. The trip concluded yesterday (December 7).
      
     The Policy Commission of the WCO holds at least two sessions annually to discuss and determine the roles and functions of the WCO. Ms Ho attended this session from December 3 to 5 in the capacity of WCO Vice-Chairperson for the Asia/Pacific (A/P) Region to convey views of the A/P members to the Policy Commission.  
      
     On December 3, Ms Ho signed the AEO MRA with the Commissioner of South African Revenue Service, Mr Edward Kieswetter, which was the first MRA signed with customs administration in the African region. This MRA will reinforce international cargo security of the two places while facilitating legitimate cross-boundary cargo movements and bringing significant benefits to AEOs on both sides, as well as enhancing their competitiveness in the international market.
      
     Later that same day, Mr Hui signed the AEO MRA Action Plans with the Director General of National Customs Service of Chile, Ms Alejandra Arriaza Loeb, and the Deputy National Superintendent of Customs of the National Superintendence of Customs and Tax Administration (SUNAT) of Peru, Mr Jyns Jose Francisco Ordonez Torres, marking a significant step for Hong Kong Customs in extending the MRA network to South America.
      
     The signing of the MRA with South Africa Customs brings the total number of MRAs ratified between Hong Kong Customs and other Customs administrations to 16. The other 15 Customs administrations with which Hong Kong has signed MRAs are Mainland China, India, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Macao, China and Bahrain. Under the MRAs, AEOs from the signatory countries or regions can enjoy reciprocal trade facilitations including reduced Customs inspection and prioritised clearance. In expanding the MRA network, Hong Kong Customs will continue to accord priority to discussions with the Belt and Road economies, particularly member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), as well as African and South American countries.
      
     On December 6, Ms Ho and the delegation arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and signed an MOU with the Governor of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority of Saudi Arabia, Mr Suhail bin Muhammad Abanmi. This MOU is the first Customs Co-operative Arrangement (CCA) signed between Hong Kong Customs and the Customs Authority of the GCC Member States in the Middle East region, which will help strengthen intelligence and information exchange for combating cross-boundary crimes and promote closer ties in trade facilitation. Currently, Hong Kong Customs has signed 33 similar CCAs with the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, Macao Customs Service, and 31 overseas customs administrations.
      
     In addition, Ms Ho on December 7 paid a courtesy call on the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr Chang Hua, to share insights on Customs co-operation and trade facilitation between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.

     Separately, Mr Hui attended the two-day Zakat, Tax and Customs Conference on December 4 and 5 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The conference, conducted under the theme "Shaping Tomorrow for Sustainable Ecosystems", gathered delegates from customs and tax administrations and international organisations, as well as stakeholders from diverse sectors, to exchange perspectives on various subjects concerning customs and trade.

                

     The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel, via a collaboration with a non-profit organisation, established Open Lab in its quest to provide flexible solutions for the textile, clothing and fashion industry to address climate change and promote sustainability. The 20 000 square foot lab features a modular research space for early stage solutions and an upcycling line.
 
     News.gov.hk visited the newly opened research and development space to learn more about the lab's visions, and the effectiveness of its innovative projects.
 
     The story is available at www.news.gov.hk/eng/feature today (December 8) in text and video format.

     The Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhou Ji today (December 7) visited Hong Kong Ocean Park to officiate the Giant Panda Greeting Ceremony with the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and Mrs Janet Lee.
     ã€€
     Other officiating guests include the Deputy Director of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Mr Li Yunqing, the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council cum the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Zheng Yanxiong, the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, Mr Cui Jianchun, Director-General of the Political Work Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison, Major General Zhu Hong, the Deputy Director of the liaison office of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Xie Zhixiang, the Deputy Director of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), Mr Lu Yongbin; Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Forestry and Grassland, Mr Wang Jinghong; the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration of HKSAR Government, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of HKSAR Government, Miss Rosanna Law, the Chairman of the Board of the Ocean Park Corporation (OPC), Mr Paulo Pong, and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Michael Lee.
      
     Speaking on behalf of the HKSAR Government and members of the public, Mr John Lee expressed his gratitude to the Central Government for gifting two more giant pandas to HKSAR. He said, "Hong Kong is honoured to be keeping the largest number of giant pandas apart from the Mainland. The giant pandas mean a lot to Hong Kong in three perspectives. It demonstrates the Central Government's support and care to Hong Kong. It also sets an example of successful national conservation work. The giant panda is also an ambassador of both our Country and Hong Kong."
      
     He also thanked the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of State Council, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the Sichuan Provincial Government for the arrangements made for the giant pandas' arrival and acclimatisation to the new living environment in the past few months. He added that the two giant pandas settled down quickly in the new environment since their arrival in Hong Kong on September 26. They have been staying in good shape under the care of experts at Ocean Park and those from the CCRCGP who came to Hong Kong to help take care of them. After the ceremony, the officiating guests visited the Hong Kong Jockey Club Sichuan Treasures to meet and greet the two new giant pandas.
      
     The Giant Panda Naming Competition and Giant Panda Painting Competition organised by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and co-organised by the OPC earlier attracted overwhelming response. The Judging Panel decided that the original names, An An and Ke Ke, will remain as their names, after considering over 22 600 submissions for the Giant Panda Naming Competition. The combination of the two giant pandas' names, An and Ke, implies that more good days are coming after the 27th Anniversary of Hong Kong's Return to the Motherland. During the ceremony today, Mr and Mrs Lee; Mr Paulo Pong; the Chief Executive of OPC, Mr Ivan Wong, presented awards to winners of the Giant Panda Naming Competition and Giant Panda Painting Competition. Judging panel members of both competitions include the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms Vivian Sum; Mr Paulo Pong; the Deputy Director of the CCRCGP as well as expert for giant pandas Mr Wei Rongping; Miss Amy Chan, Mr Kenneth Fok and Dr Shirley Marie Therese Loo. Details of the competitions can be found at the Ocean Park's dedicated website at www.oceanpark.com.hk/en/park-experience/giant-panda-campaign-2024/painting-competition-2024.
      
     An An and Ke Ke will meet the public from tomorrow (December 8). Visitors can also meet the giant panda Le Le, which newly became a father.

          

     â€‹The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, today (December 7) continued his visit to Shanghai and Hangzhou.
      
     In the morning, Mr Tang went to the test centre of the Hong Kong civil service Common Recruitment Examination in Shanghai and visited officers of the Police Recruitment Division of the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) there. He was briefed on the publicity and on-site recruitment of inspectors and police constables, as well as the recruitment situation of the HKPF on the Mainland. 
      
     Mr Tang then met with Hong Kong people living in Shanghai and shared with them key policy initiatives of the Security Bureau next year and the latest situation of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on facilitating the flow of talent. He also had in-depth exchanges with them on their business operations and challenges they face. 
      
     In the afternoon, Mr Tang together with other officials departed for Hangzhou to continue the itinerary. He visited Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd. to gain a better understanding on how video sensing and artificial intelligence technology are used to strengthen town security management, such as maintaining law and order, crime investigation, emergency rescue and more. 
      
     Mr Tang tomorrow (December 8) will visit the Asian Games Stadium in Hangzhou and meet with leaders of Zhejiang Province Public Security Department. Mr Tang hoped to learn from the experience in relation to security management and technology application strategy during the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year, so that preparation for the security work of the 15th National Games events to be staged in Hong Kong next year would be smoother.
      
     In addition, Mr Tang will meet with Hong Kong businessmen and students in Hangzhou to know more about the business and study environment in the city. He will also visit the headquarters of the Alibaba Group to grasp the latest development of the use of technologies including artificial intelligence and big data.

     Mr Tang will conclude his visit and return to Hong Kong tomorrow evening.

      

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (December 7) that the Tung Chung Swimming Pool in Islands District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 6.30am tomorrow.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.