Customs clearance: Customs & Excise Commissioner Richard Yuen and New Zealand Customs Service Comptroller Martyn Dunne exchange the joint communique for closer co-operation at a meeting in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong and New Zealand Customs have signed a pact to boost ties in intelligence analysis and risk management and to organise training and reciprocal visits.

The immediate notification mechanism for prompt intelligence exchange to combat transnational customs offences will stay.

Customs & Excise Commissioner Richard Yuen and New Zealand Customs Service Comptroller Martyn Dunne signed the joint communique for closer co-operation in a biennial meeting today.

Mr Yuen said New Zealand is the first signatory party of a customs co-operative arrangement with Hong Kong, dating back to 1991.

"The two administrations have been maintaining effective co-operation for years. At today's meeting, we agreed to strengthen exchange of knowledge and expertise particularly in the area of intelligence and risk analysis," he added.

Mr Dunne is leading a four-member delegation to attend the sixth Customs Co-operation Conference in Hong Kong. They visited Customs Marine Base on Stonecutters Island and will leave Hong Kong tomorrow.