An airplane takes off from the third runway at the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong on Nov 25, 2022. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

The Airport Authority Hong Kong on Thursday signed a cooperation framework agreement with Dongguan Municipal People’s Government to set up Hong Kong International Airport Logistics Park (HKIALP) in Dongguan, a Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area city.

As an international cargo gateway, Hong Kong International Airport handles about 75 percent of the region's international air cargo. The new logistics park in Dongguan can deal with security screening, palletization, and processing of GBA’s export cargo. The cargo will then be shipped seamlessly to a new airside intermodal cargo pier at HKIA for direct air transshipment to overseas destinations.

The operating processes to facilitate customs clearance have been extended from Hong Kong to Dongguan. HKIA has given assurances that the entire transshipment process is conducted under secure conveyance and in compliance with Hong Kong cargo security regulations

When the two facilities are fully implemented, they are expected to cut operating costs by half, and handling time by about one-third, according to a statement by HKIA. The project is expected to be completed in 2025. 

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Moreover, the operating processes to facilitate customs clearance have been extended from Hong Kong to Dongguan. HKIA has given assurances that the entire transshipment process is conducted under secure conveyance and in compliance with Hong Kong cargo security regulations.

Jack So, chairman of Airport Authority, said, “The intermodal cargo transshipment initiative is an innovative model aiming to attain unparalleled efficiency in international cargo handling between GBA and Hong Kong.”

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Looking forward, the scale of the pilot scheme will be expanded with more cargo terminal operators, airlines, and freight forwarders. The authority also plans to include imported cargo in the future.

Contact the writer at grace@chinadailyhk.com