In October 2024, Hong Kong Customs commended 18 stakeholders from the logistics and intellectual property sectors during the presentation ceremony of the Elite Enterprise Partnership Award 2024 for having proactively cooperated with the Customs Administration. This was the third iteration of the initiative, and four of the awardees have received the prize for three consecutive years, showcasing their unwavering commitment by either participating in enforcement actions such as controlled delivery operations, offering valuable information and assistance in detecting Customs-related crimes, and/or delivering exceptional support and facilitative arrangements to Customs.

Many award-winning enterprises have implemented sophisticated monitoring systems that provide timely information on their shipments. The information provided is cross-referenced with shipping manifests and historical trade patterns. This enables Customs to identify potential risks and target inspections more effectively.

The award also recognizes businesses that adhere to high security standards, including the implementation of strict access controls for cargo storage areas and regular security audits by third-party experts to identify vulnerabilities. Award-winning enterprises also actively participated in Hong Kong Customs’ tailored training programmes that empower their employees to identify potential risks and report suspicious activities, fostering a culture of vigilance and accountability. Finally, some of these businesses supported Customs-controlled delivery operations.

Significant outcomes have been accomplished through collaboration with industry partners. For example, following Customs’ request, a cargo terminal operator swiftly furnished critical data on some containers and assisted Customs in keeping track of their movement, enabling the Administration to stop a major smuggling operation involving an ocean-going vessel. On-site assistance provided by the operator also streamlined the investigation and facilitated evidence collection. The collaboration largely contributed to the record seizure of HK$1.5 billion of smuggled goods, including electronic goods, high-value food ingredients, table wines, music records and endangered animal species. These goods were transported in 15 containers declared to contain boxes of wood pulp.