New Air Cargo Transport from HK to Mainland Launched

Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd (Hactl) launched SuperLink China Direct, a new integrated air cargo service to transfer air cargo from Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) to Guangzhou's Baiyun Airport, Wednesday.

The new service, to begin on August 2, will be operated by Hong Kong Air Cargo Industry Services Limited (Hacis), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hactl.

"After over a year of preparation, Hacis in conjunction with Sinotrans Guangzhou Company will be able to provide an expedited service via a sealed truck to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport where Chinese customs clearance procedures will take place," said Mark Ashall, managing director of Hacis.

"The simplified customs clearance is a breakthrough for cargo that passes through Shenzhen by road," said Chen Hai Ping, general manager of Sinotrans Guangzhou.

SuperLink China Direct, which gives a full range of cargo handling services, including warehouse storage, physical handling services, documentation and customs clearance, provides an efficient alternative for customers, said Ashall.

Ashall declared that Cathay Pacific Airways is SuperLink China Direct's first customer.

Initially, Hacis will operate three services a week, and will increase services in response to growth in demand, he said.

At present, about 70 percent of the cargo handled at HKIA, an international air cargo hub with 1.99 million tons of air cargo throughput in 1999 and an average of over 450 flights a day, are destined to the Chinese mainland.



People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/