Deal Inked to Promote Regional Logistics

Source: China Daily

Hong Kong, Macao and mainland customs yesterday struck a deal to enhance customs clearance network, cross-border logistics, cross regional law enforcement and economic development in the Pan PRD region.

On behalf of Hong Kong, Macao and mainland customs the agreement was signed by Commissioner of Customs and Excise Timothy Tong of the HKSAR, Director-General of Macao Customs Service Choi Laihang and Vice Minister of the General Administration of Customs of the PRC Liu Wenjie.

Under the pact, high technology will be used to make cross-border traffic of goods and vehicles more efficient and effective.

A pilot scheme will be set up for reputed enterprises in the Pan PRD region to ensure faster and convenient customs clearance.

The new arrangement will save transport time and cost, increase efficiency of customs' work and promote safety and convenience of regional logistics.

Mainland and Hong Kong customs will gradually expand the area of X-ray data sharing in customs ports.

Under the new deal, Hong Kong, Macao and mainland customs will step up cooperation for law enforcement and training.

They will set up mechanisms in anti-drug smuggling, intellectual property protection and training to enhance a comprehensive development of customs in the Pan PRD region.

Under the agreement, goods from Macao can transfer through mainland ports, and mainland and Macao will try to realize customs clearance data sharing.

Mo Pak-hung, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, School of Business of the Hong Kong Baptist University said, "The pact is a step forward in enhancing economic integration between Hong Kong and the Pan PRD region."

The pact could help to complement each other's advantages and disadvantages, which would benefit the entire Pan PRD region, he said.

By simplifying customs clearance procedures Hong Kong would be able to maintain its status as a transport center, he added.

However, he did not see a breakthrough in the pact that could increase economic integration in the region.

He suggested setting up of an economic zone along the border of Hong Kong and Shenzhen to develop high-end technology.

Sherman Ng, Chief Executive Officer of Vanquish Holdings Ltd., a company specializing on cross-border container trucking transportation services said the cooperation stated in the pact was in the right direction and it would make cross-border customs clearance more efficient.

He said Hong Kong and mainland would need to unify the standard of data as Hong Kong customs put more emphasis on intellectual property protection, while mainland customs are more alert on the weight of goods and the amount of tax declared.

Meanwhile, in the Regional Customs Commissioners Joint Conference yesterday, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee said the Shenzhen Bay Port, to be operational in the middle of this year, only required trucks to check once for customs clearance.

Editor: Shanna Chu