The Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) and the Dongguan Municipal People's Government today signed a co-operation framework agreement to implement and foster the long-term development of the sea-air intermodal cargo transshipment mode between the two cities.

The agreement was signed in Hong Kong by AAHK Chief Executive Officer Fred Lam and Dongguan Mayor Lyu Chengxi, and witnessed by Secretary for Transport & Logistics Lam Sai-hung, Dongguan Deputy Mayor Liu Guangbin, Dongguan Secretary-General Yan Jizong and AAHK Chairman Jack So.

Noting that Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has been the main gateway for air cargo going into and out of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Mr Lam said the signing of the agreement helps further enhance bilateral co-operation on air cargo services.

“It will boost the cargo handling capacity under the sea-air intermodal cargo transshipment mode, allowing more cargo to be transported to and from the Greater Bay Area through Hong Kong, consolidating Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub and raising the overall competitiveness of the bay area.”

Mr Lam added that the agreement will create synergy.

“Hong Kong is an international aviation hub with a wide international aviation network, while Dongguan is a premier manufacturing base in the bay area.

“Based on the existing mutually beneficial co-operation, the agreement effectively combines the edges of Hong Kong and Dongguan and creates synergy.”

Under the sea-air intermodal cargo transshipment mode, the AAHK will set up an upstream HKIA logistics park in Dongguan and a new airside intermodal cargo pier within the airport's restricted area.

Export cargo from the Mainland can go through security screening, palletisation and cargo acceptance in advance in the upstream logistics park, and then be transported seamlessly by sea in compliance with Hong Kong's air cargo security regulations and under secured conveyance to the cargo pier on the airside of HKIA for direct transshipment to overseas destinations, without repeating the screening procedures.

Cargo from overseas may also be imported into the Mainland via Hong Kong through the reverse process. A pilot scheme was launched at the end of 2021 and has been operating smoothly, the Transport & Logistics bureau noted.