CityUHK and Hong Kong Customs partner to advance canine enforcement and welfare
City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (Hong Kong Customs) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 11 September to establish a collaboration aimed at enhancing enforcement effectiveness and advancing animal welfare in canine operations.
The MoU was signed by Professor Anderson Shum Ho-cheung, Vice-President (Research) of CityUHK, and Ms Chiang Yi-lee, Assistant Commissioner (Boundary and Ports) of Hong Kong Customs.
The partnership will launch with the Smart Collar Research Project, which builds on an innovative wearable device developed by Hong Kong Customs to monitor the vital signs of detector dogs. Led by Professor Angel Almendros, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at CityUHK, the research team will analyse data collected from the smart collars to gain insights that will optimise detector dogs’ operational effectiveness and improve welfare standards.
“This partnership is both profound and far-reaching,” said Professor Shum. “It exemplifies CityUHK’s commitment to interdisciplinary, cutting-edge research that addresses real-world challenges. Hong Kong Customs’ mission to safeguard our boundaries and communities complements our strengths perfectly. By combining their operational expertise with our knowledge in veterinary science and data analytics, we will harness smart technologies to bolster efficiency and set new benchmarks in security and sustainability.”
Building on CityUHK's existing support for Hong Kong Customs in areas such as breeding training, veterinary nursing, and puppy development, this MoU marks a significant milestone by elevating the enduring partnership from training to transformative research. It underscores a joint commitment to applying academic excellence for practical impact, ensuring Hong Kong remains at the forefront of security and animal welfare.
The Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences (JCC) at CityUHK is recognised as one of the Asia’s leading veterinary schools. Its Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) programme, Hong Kong’s first and only six-year BVM programme, is the only veterinary degree in the region to hold dual accreditation from the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in the UK — two of the world’s foremost veterinary regulatory bodies.
The BVM programme is one the CityUHK’s nine Flagship Programmes, which offer prestigious flagship scholarships, providing students with overseas exchange opportunities at Cornell University, advanced training in research and leadership skills, and clinical practice experience.
BVM students also gain hands-on experience at CityUHK’s world-class clinical facilities, including the CityUHK Veterinary Medical Centre, CityUHK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and CityUHK Farm, empowering them to become future leaders in veterinary medicine, equipped to advance animal health and welfare.