World Customs Organization's Ian Saunders on global collaboration and HK's key role
發佈日期: 2026-05-22 20:04
TVB News
World Customs Organization's Secretary-General Ian Saunders was in Hong Kong this week for the body's Asia-Pacific Regional Heads of Customs Administrations Conference.
In an interview with TVB News, Saunders underscores Hong Kong's key role as a bridge in the global customs community.
The World Customs Organization Secretary-General Ian Saunders has helmed the body since 2024.
Speaking with TVB News in Hong Kong, Saunders says regardless of shifting political tides, global cooperation continues to underpin the body's mission.
Secretary-General, World Customs Organization IAN SAUNDERS: "No matter what's happening politically in the environment, or what's even happening economically in the environment, the expectation on customs is to ensure that the goods that are going to cross a border, whichever border that might be that they do so efficiently that they do so safely."
He adds that the WCO plays a critical role in levelling the playing field for its 187 members by coordinating joint law enforcement operations targeted at illegal timber, firearms and synthetic narcotics through sharing best practices and global data.
IAN SAUNDERS: "In these focused environments, we're able to make a difference against transnational crime, because unfortunately the abuse of the trade is one side of transnational crime. It's how they move, the items that they choose to move. It's how they collect their proceeds and fortunately wherever there's a border, there's customs able to intervene. Hong Kong is extremely important. As one of our six regional vice chairs within the WCO community, it has the responsibility for active communication with several of our members, in a very diverse region to be a bridge between us at the WCO in Brussels and the members in the Asia-Pacific region."
On the growth of global e-commerce, the WCO says this high-volume format is easily exploited by criminals hiding small-quantity contraband, forcing customs agencies to adapt staffing with more advanced tech applications in risk assessment strategies and data analytics.
He also highlights another long-term pillar of the WCO: "green customs."
They include crackdowns on environmental crimes and maximising logistical efficiency to trim truck and cargo wait times.
Commissioner of Customs and Excise Chan Tsz-tat will also lead a delegation to Belgium next month, where Hong Kong will formally secure the endorsement of its re-election as Vice-Chair of the Asia-Pacific region of the World Customs Organization.
Li Kin-kei, Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise, who is also the Head of the Secretariat Office of the World Customs Organization's Asia/Pacific Vice-Chair, highlights Hong Kong's key role, especially with increased trading activities in the region.
Head of Secretariat Office, WCO Asia/Pacific Vice-Chair LI KIN-KEI: "We also see that the main economic growth engine now lies within the Asia-Pacific region. In particular, for the export, we have the export of commodities and goods from China, which are of a very, very wide variety. And we also hope through Hong Kong, we make better connections with the world so that every part of the world can economically thrive together."
