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23 February
2006
For enquiries, please contact
the Corporate Affairs Department, tel.: (852)
2115 3705, email: cad@ModernTerminals.com.
¡§Green Lane¡¨ Receives the Go-ahead
The
cross-boundary ¡§Green Lane¡¨ is moving closer
to becoming a reality, following agreement by
the Hong Kong and Shenzhen customs authorities
to implement a pilot project during the coming
months.
Under
the new system, cross-boundary trucks will pass
along an express lane through the Hong Kong ¡V
Mainland boundary. Customs procedures will no
longer be conducted at the boundary, as they are
at present. Instead, they will take place at a
logistics centre in Shenzhen.
The
¡§Green Lane¡¨ is expected to save overall trucking
time, and make it possible for laden containers
to be directly transferred between cross-boundary
trucks and mainland trucks in Shenzhen. Ultimately,
it will help to reduce overall cross-boundary
trucking costs and improve the competitiveness
of the local shipping and transportation community
by increasing the efficiency of the cross-boundary
trucking industry.
Modern Terminals has played a leading role in
advocating the implementation of the ¡§Green Lane¡¨
system. Early last year, we took the initiative
to form a joint working group of different stakeholders
in the community to lobby customs authorities
about the subject. The parties involved agreed
to pursue the project as a matter of urgency,
because it is necessary to counteract the erosion
of Hong Kong Port¡¦s competitiveness caused by
the inefficiencies of the existing trucking model.
OnePort, an associate company of Modern Terminals,
is acting as a common platform for the ¡§Green
Lane¡¨ model. It is currently developing various
cross-boundary data-exchange methods, including
a Unified Road Manifest for pre-submission via
monitoring e-tools endorsed by customs authorities.
The
customs authorities involved are formulating plans
to launch a pilot ¡§Green Lane¡¨ project. If it
proves successful, the ¡§Green Lane¡¨ will be
extended to the Kwai Chung ¡V Lok Ma Chau control
point, thus providing complete coverage of cross-boundary
cargo movements. There are also plans to implement
the model in the Shenzhen Western Corridor as
well.
©2006 Modern Terminals Limited
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that
the information contained in this publication
is correct, Modern Terminals Limited takes no
responsibility for any errors or omissions or
for any consequences resulting therefrom.
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