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Following is the question by the Hon Wong Ting-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip, in the Legislative Council today (January 18):
Question:
Regarding SuperLink China Direct ("SuperLink"), a logistics service provided by the Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited, will the Government inform this Council whether it knows:
(a) if the cross-boundary cargo throughput between the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and the Mainland has increased over the past three years as a result of the launch of SuperLink, and the relevant statistics;
(b) if the existing speedy cargo handling facilities of SuperLink can cope with the future growth in demand in Hong Kong for such logistics service; and
(c) the existing security measures of SuperLink to ensure that the cargoes transported through the service are properly protected before leaving HKIA?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) Based on the information provided by the Airport Authority (AA) and the Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (HACTL), cross-boundary cargo throughput between the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and the Mainland has increased by 29% between 2003 and 2005, from 1.45 million tonnes to 1.87 million tonnes. Of this throughput, the amount handled through the SuperLink China Direct service has increased by 220% from 5 460 tonnes in 2003 to 17 500 tonnes in 2005.
(b) According to the information provided by HACTL, the company has been improving its SuperLink China Direct service to meet market demand. When the service was first launched in 2000, it only offered consolidated truck service between HKIA and the Baiyun Airport in Guangzhou. The service has now been extended to a total of seven destinations in Guangdong and Fujian Provinces. HACTL also regularly reviews the capacity of its air cargo handling facility at HKIA to ensure that it can cope with the future growth of air cargo throughput.
(c) Before departing HKIA, all loaded cargo trucks for the SuperLink China Direct service will be sealed at HACTL under the supervision of officers of the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department. Upon arrival at the control point in Huanggang, the trucks will be sealed again by Mainland Customs officers. These seals will only be removed by local Customs officers upon arrival at the designated collection and distribution centres in the Mainland. This arrangement would ensure that the cargo within the trucks would not be tampered with throughout the journey. In order to further enhance the level of security, HACTL is currently studying the feasibility of introducing new technology such as Global Positioning System and electronic seals.
Ends/Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:56
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