The Customs & Excise Department has signed agreements with Argentina and Vietnam to strengthen co-operation to combat transnational crime.

Commissioner of Customs & Excise Clement Cheung signed a Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Co-operation & Mutual Administrative Assistance yesterday with Argentina's Federal Administrator of the Federal Administration of Public Revenue Ricardo Echegaray in Brussels.

He also signed a Customs Co-operative Arrangement with the Director General of the General Department of Vietnam Customs Nguyen Ngoc Tuc while attending the 121st/122nd Sessions of the Customs Co-operation Council.

Hong Kong has so far signed 20 similar co-operative instruments with its counterparts.

The visa-free period for Croatians to visit Hong Kong will be extended from 14 to 90 days from July 1, the Immigration Department announced today.

At present, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders can visit Croatia visa-free for up to 90 days.

The visa policy is subject to constant review and changes will be introduced if circumstances warrant, the department said.

Hong Kong is well placed to handle all kinds of arbitration because the city has a mature common law legal system, internationally renowned arbitration institutions, well-developed arbitration facilities, and talent with global vision and a solid grasp of international rules.

This was the message from Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen, speaking at the Asia Pacific Regional Arbitration Group Conference 2013 opening ceremony in Beijing today.

He said Hong Kong's location enables it to provide resolution services involving civil and commercial disputes in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Greater China area.

The development of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in the Asia-Pacific region is heading towards a golden age, he said. He emphasised the need to build an arbitration culture and an arbitration-friendly environment within the region, as well as the importance of conducting inter-disciplinary research.

The global economic balance has shifted from the West to the East, he said, so with more economic and trade activities, the need for arbitration and ADR services will become higher.

More than 400 government officials and legal and arbitration professionals from the Mainland, Hong Kong and other parts of the world attended the conference.

Speaking to the media, Mr Yuen said his visit is a good opportunity to promote Hong Kong’s arbitration development.

He met legal and judicial officials yesterday to discuss mutual legal assistance in combating money laundering and cross-boundary marriage legal issues.

Asked about the Snowden incident, Mr Yuen said no reply has been received so far since the Government wrote to US authorities on June 21. He said he has not discussed the matter with Beijing officials.

He reiterated that the Government acted in accordance with the law and the treaty signed with the US in 1996.