Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang Friday commended Hong Kong Customs for its good discipline and quality services at the passing-out parade at the Customs and Excise Training School.

In his speech, Tsang said that since its establishment, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region had successfully implemented the "One Country, Two Systems" policy by continuing to operate effectively as a separate customs territory and maintaining the existing systems of customs duties, trade and customs clearance.

He said that besides daily clearance duties at various busy control points and suppression of smuggling activities, Customs officers are always conducting operations to combat illicit oil- detreating workshops and illegal cigarette peddling to protect Hong Kong's source of revenue.

Tsang added that Customs' raid operations had led to a significant drop in retail piracy.

"This year, the department uncovered a case of peer-to-peer network infringement, the first such case in the world, and the offender was successfully prosecuted.

"This shows Hong Kong's determination and effectiveness in protecting intellectual property rights, said he.

According to Tsang, Customs has also developed trade facilitation strategies by shortening the clearance time for cross- boundary cargo.

These include the provision of a one-stop clearance service at the soon-to-be-completed Shenzhen Bay Control Point, as well as examining the feasibility of establishing logistics pipelines connecting Guangdong and Hong Kong with Shenzhen Customs to tie in with the service requirements of the Pan-Pearl River Delta region.

While encouraging the passing-out officers to carry out their duties with enthusiasm and initiative, Tsang said he hoped they would take pride in their work as members of the Customs and Excise Service.

A total of 123 Customs Officers who had completed 20 weeks of highly demanding training participated in the passing-out ceremony. Among them, six top recruits were awarded Whistles of Honor by the Chief Executive.

Source: Xinhua