The Hong Kong Customs has signed a co-operative arrangement with the Tax and Customs Administration of the Netherlands, according to the Information Services department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government.

Commissioner of Customs and Excise Timothy Tong and Head of Dutch Customs Administration Willy Rovers, representing their respective administrations, signed the "Arrangement on Technical Co-operation" on Wednesday in The Hague.

Tong also had a meeting with Jan Kees de Jager, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Finance, on Hong Kong's advantages as an entrepot between Europe and the Chinese mainland.

Under the Arrangement, Hong Kong and Dutch Customs will seek to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of customs control, and improve risk management.

Hong Kong and Dutch Customs have established close working relationship, particularly in the field of enforcement and trade facilitation. Signing of the Arrangement has reaffirmed commitment and co-operation between the two administrations.

Tong is leading a delegation to visit France and the Netherlands from Monday to Friday.

While in France, he met with Madam Christine Lagarde, French Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries at Bordeaux. He also discussed with Bordeaux Customs and international wine traders ways and means to promote Hong Kong as a wine hub.

(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2007)