SAR officials will meet US Customs representatives today amid mounting pressure to allow American officers to screen US-bound containers at overseas ports for terrorist bombs.
The meeting comes a day after Singapore agreed to allow the United States to conduct the pilot security scheme against terrorism.
The agreement by Hong Kong's biggest port rival would increase pressure on the SAR to follow suit, US government sources said.
Donald Shruhan, acting assistant commissioner of the US Customs Service and a chief architect of the Singapore deal, will lead the American team meeting local port and Customs officials.
A spokesman for Hong Kong Customs said its US counterpart had yet to supply any details on the security scheme.
SAR officials from the Commerce and Industry Bureau, Security Bureau as well as the Customs, Marine and the Trade and Industry departments will attend the meeting.
Under the US Customs Container Security Initiative, US officers will help screen containers in the world's 20 biggest ports before they reach the US.
