Partnership pact: Dutch Customs Administration head Willy Rovers and Commissioner of Customs & Excise Timothy Tong sign the Arrangement on Technical Co-operation in The Hague.

Commissioner of Customs & Excise Timothy Tong has signed a co-operative arrangement with the Netherlands' Tax & Customs Administration in The Hague.

He and Dutch Customs Administration head Willy Rovers signed the Arrangement on Technical Co-operation on behalf of their governments today.

Under it, Hong Kong and Dutch authorities will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of customs control, improve risk management, facilitate trade and develop projects of common interest like exchange programmes for officials.

Mr Tong also met with State Secretary for Finance Jan Kees de Jager to discuss Hong Kong's advantages as a link between Europe and the Mainland.

Mr Tong is leading a delegation to France and the Netherlands from June 18 to 22. He also met the French Minister for Agriculture & Fisheries and Bordeaux Customs and international wine traders to promote Hong Kong as a wine hub.