V Sparkle

VTC and Hong Kong Customs Join Hands to Promote Community Care and Anti-Pet Smuggling Messages

Jointly organised by VTC Community Engagement Unit (CEU) and Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (Customs), the launch ceremony of a co-operation plan was held on 16 May at the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) Kwai Chung campus. With the theme “Entering the Campus, Reaching the Community”, the year-long initiative aims to promote messages of community care and the fight against pet smuggling through community visits involving VTC VCare Ambassadors and Customs detector dogs. On the same day, the Prize Presentation for Puppy-naming Competition was also held. Under the theme “EXCELSIOR”, the nine detector dog puppies were named.

The launch ceremony was officiated by Mr Jeffrey LAM, VTC Chairman; Mr CHAN Tsz-tat, Commissioner of Customs & Excise; Mr Donald TONG, VTC Executive Director; Ms CHIANG Yi-lee, Assistant Commissioner (Boundary and Ports); Ms Aubrey AU, Head of Land Boundary Command and Ms Gladys YAM, VTC Deputy Executive Director. They were joined by Dr Michael WANG, VTC Deputy Executive Director, a host of guests, VTC students, Customs YES youth members and the public to witness this cross-sector collaboration.

Mr Jeffrey LAM, VTC Chairman, expressed great pleasure in building on the solid foundation of co-operation between VTC and Customs, particularly partnering with the Customs Canine Force. This reflects VTC's spirit of “Connect the community with Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET)”. Chairman looked forward to further collaboration between both parties in the future to benefit students and the community. Mr CHAN Tsz-tat, Commissioner of Customs & Excise, said that while Customs was committed to combating animal smuggling with determination, the department also placed strong emphasis on public education. Commissioner hoped that the event would help raise public awareness of animal protection and preventing pet smuggling. Furthermore, Customs would engage in professional skills exchanges with the IVE Health and Life Sciences Discipline in areas such as basic canine handling training, pet medical care and grooming training.

Another highlight of the event was the series of postcards and souvenirs designed by students from School for Higher and Professional Education (SHAPE) Illustration programme and graduates of the Higher Diploma in Illustration, Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI), CHAN Wai and YIP Cheuk-lam. Their designs showcased the creativity and professional dedication of detector dogs, demonstrating the outcomes of VPET. 

In addition to the ceremony, the event featured interactive booths. Students from Higher Diploma in Pet Care and Wellness of IVE demonstrated dog grooming and massage techniques. Participants created their own perler bead keychains with dog patterns at a workshop by design students of HKDI and the Student Development Discipline. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) also set up booths to promote anti-pet smuggling messages and pet care knowledge to the public. 

[Photo 1] Mr Jeffrey LAM (third from left), VTC Chairman; Mr CHAN Tsz-tat (third from right), Commissioner of Customs & Excise; Mr Donald TONG (second from right), VTC Executive Director; Ms CHIANG Yi-lee (second from left), Assistant Commissioner (Boundary and Ports); Ms Gladys YAM (first from left), VTC Deputy Executive Director, and Ms Aubrey AU (first from right), Head of Land Boundary Command serve as officiating guests.

[Photo 2] Mr Jeffrey LAM, VTC Chairman looked forward to further collaboration with Customs in the future to benefit students and the community, embodying the spirit of “Connect the community with VPET”, as mentioned in the speech.

[Photo 3] Mr CHAN Tsz-tat (centre), Commissioner of Customs & Excise, presents certificates of appreciation to CHAN Wai (left) and YIP Cheuk-lam (right), students from SHAPE design programme and graduates of the Higher Diploma in Illustration Design of HKDI, for their design of postcards and souvenirs for the nine detector dog puppies.

[Photo 4] Students from Higher Diploma in Pet Care and Wellness of IVE demonstrate dog grooming and massage techniques for Mr Jeffrey LAM (first from left), VTC Chairman and Mr CHAN Tsz-tat (second from left), Commissioner of Customs & Excise, showcasing the results of vocational and professional education.

[Photo 5] Participants at the perler bead keychain workshop, jointly organised by HKDI design programme students and the Student Development Discipline, create their own key chain by hand.

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