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Hong Kong, as a premier logistics hub and the gateway to the vast China market, promised reliable and value-for-money services as well as tremendous business opportunities for professional logistics players in the US, the Permanent Secretary for Economic Development, Ms Sandra Lee has said.
Ms Lee was speaking to hundreds of attendees at a seminar and luncheon events held at five US fast growing ports and logistics centres from January 17 to 24 (US time).
Ms Lee and several members of the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council (LOGSCOUNCIL) were on a visit to Riverside, Long Beach, Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas where the seminar "Hong Kong - Your Premier Inter-Modal Logistics Hub" and luncheons were held on January 17, 18, 20, 23 and 24 (US time) respectively.
The Permanent Secretary told audiences at the luncheons that globalisation had led to a facelift of trade and logistics services in Hong Kong.
"Now, we not only make things, we make things happen. To meet the new demand in procurement, transport and distribution of raw materials and finished products, we do not simply move boxes, but offer premier global supply chain services," she said.
Ms Lee said that speed, efficiency, reliability and transparency in logistics flow had increasingly become the drivers of profit margins for businesses all over the world.
"These depend on professional supply-chain management which plays to the established strengths of Hong Kong such as our round-the-clock customs services, our can-do spirit which smooth any hiccups along the supply chain.
"Our strong multi-modal transportation linkage offers maximum choice, flexibility and efficiency in supply-chain management. Our port and airport are further underpinned by our very strong cross-boundary land transport infrastructure.
"The Lok Ma Chau Control Point between Hong Kong and the mainland of China is the world's busiest land crossing feeding our port and airport with non-stop cargo through an elaborate but highly efficient and effective multi-modal transportation network," she said.
To fully exploit the advantages of multi-modality, a Digital Trade and Transportation Network System was recently launched to provide an open, neutral and secure e-platform through which players along the supply chain can exchange data and information reliably, Ms Lee said.
Speaking of the rapidly expanding China market, Ms Lee said that Hong Kong logistics players enjoyed a unique advantage in the provision of logistics services in the Mainland because of its position as the gateway to China and its status as a separate customs territory and as a WTO member in its own right.
"Known as CEPA, which stands for Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, this free-trade pact between mainland China and Hong Kong gives service providers in the territory advance access to the mainland market in over 20 sectors, including logistics, transport, warehousing and freight forwarding. US companies can also take advantage of CEPA to use Hong Kong as a launching pad to business expansion in the Mainland if they meet the criterion of three to five years of 'substantive operation in Hong Kong', " Ms Lee said.
Looking ahead, Ms Lee outlined to the audience plans to further enhance and strengthen Hong Kong's role as a logistics hub. These include the development of a Logistics Park; the opening in mid-2006 of the Shenzhen Western Corridor, which links Hong Kong and Shenzhen, part of the Pearl River Delta; the planning of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge as well as research and development of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and its application in logistics operations.
The Permanent Secretary said she was confident of the future of our port and logistics development given our natural advantages and commitment to further sharpening our competitive edge.
"We welcome all of you to Asia's world city to unlock the unlimited potential offered there," she concluded.
Apart from the LOGSCOUNCIL, organisers of the events included the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in New York and San Francisco, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Center for International Trade Development, Riverside Community College District, Foreign Trade Association of Southern California, Hong Kong Association of Southern California, International Business Association of Southern California, Hong Kong Association of Atlanta and the Hong Kong Association of Northern Texas.
LOGSCOUNCIL members who joined the visit as seminar speakers included the Honorable Miriam Lau; Chairman of the Hong Kong Shippers' Council, Mr Willy Lin; Chairman and Chief Executive of BALtrans Holdings, Mr Anthony Lau and Chairman of the Hong Kong Container Terminal Operators Association Limited, Mr Alan Lee.
The Permanent Secretary and the delegation also visited local seaports, logistics institutes, business organisations and logistics companies and met with local government officials and the media during their stay in the US.
Ends/Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Issued at HKT 10:55
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