HONG KONG: The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) hosted the Sea Cargo Pre-shipment Declaration Scheme 2017 and Partnership Programme with Container Terminal Operators Presentation Ceremony at the Customs Headquarters Building today (August 30) and presented award certificates to 46 sea cargo carriers/companies in recognition of their active participation in the scheme and efforts to work with the department to provide efficient and seamless cargo clearance services for the trade. Certificates of appreciation were also presented to six container terminal operators today in appreciation of their considerable support for the department.
Speaking at the ceremony, Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Boundary and Ports) Ms Louise Ho noted that the Sea Cargo Pre-shipment Declaration Scheme not only achieves seamless cargo clearance by enhancing clearance efficiency and expediting cargo flow, it also paves the way for the implementation of the Trade Single Window, which will strengthen Hong Kong’s status as a regional logistics hub.“One of the major factors attributing to the provision of user-friendly and efficient clearance services by the C&ED is the active participation of sea cargo carriers in various sea cargo information submission schemes,” Ms Ho said.
“With the C&ED’s continuous promotion and remarkable efforts by sea cargo carriers/companies, the submission rate of pre-shipment cargo information recorded last year was higher than that of the year before, resulting in a further speeding up of sea cargo clearance. The increased number of awardees from 40 to 46 this year also attests to the strong support from the sea cargo industry to the schemes,” Ms Ho said. This is the second prize presentation ceremony to commend sea cargo carriers/companies for their active participation in the Sea Cargo Pre-shipment Declaration Scheme. Meanwhile, the C&ED strengthened its partnership with container terminal operators via a 24-hour hotline which was established early this year with an aim to enhance co-operation and communications, thus combating sea smuggling activities more effectively and further enhancing customs clearance efficiency.
Since 2009, the C&ED has been rolling out different sea cargo information submission schemes, including the EMAN Statement I Submission Scheme and the Advance Cargo Information – River Trade Vessel Scheme. These schemes allow carriers and cargo agents to submit advance cargo information to the department prior to vessels’ arrival, enabling the department to conduct risk assessment more effectively and provide efficient and seamless cargo clearance services to the industry.
