By Damian Brett
Source: Shutterstock
Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has signed a cooperation framework agreement with Dongguan Municipal People’s Government to further develop intermodal operations.
The airport authority has been leading the development of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) Logistics Park in Dongguan and a new airside intermodal cargo pier at the airport to allow screening, palletisation and acceptance to be completed in Dongguan before being shipped to HKIA airside by ship for flights heading to overseas destinations.
A pilot project is already underway and is said to be operating smoothly.
The agreement signed today (February 16) covers various areas on which the Dongguan Government and AAHK will work together to enhance air cargo services in the Greater Bay Area and to implement customs clearance facilitation initiatives by Dongguan authorities.
And, with the acceptance by the Civil Aviation Department of Hong Kong, all operating procedures were extended from Hong Kong to Dongguan.
Jack So, chairman of AAHK, said: “The intermodal cargo transshipment initiative is an innovative model aiming to attain unparalleled efficiency in international cargo handling between GBA and Hong Kong.”
The project is set to be completed in 2025.
Meanwhile, the scale of the pilot scheme will be expanded with more cargo terminal operators, airlines and freight forwarders taking part in providing upstream services, extension of operations to cover import cargoes.
