| For immediate release | 11th May, 2001 |
Hactl celebrates 25th anniversary and looks forward to tackling new challenges
(Hong Kong: 11 May 2001) - Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl)'s focus moving forward is to assist Hong Kong to maintain its qualitative edge in the region by becoming involved in areas of the broader supply chain where Hactl can add value to customers, Mr Anthony Wong, Managing Director of Hactl, said as the company celebrated its 25th anniversary today.
Mr Wong said that when Hactl commenced operations 25 years ago, few would have believed that the air cargo industry in Hong Kong would have achieved what it has at the intervening period.
"In our first year of operation in 1976 we handled a total of 176,184 tonnes. Last year a total of 2.24 million tonnes was handled in Hong Kong which made us the region's leading air cargo hub and the second busiest airport in the world for international air cargo."
Mr Wong commented that such a success was a result of Hong Kong's favourable geographic position on the South China coast, the existence of a transparent legal system and the presence of a range of support services such as banking and insurance which have facilitated the development of trade via Hong Kong. However the success could not have been possible without the co-operation of the community participants including airlines, freight forwarders, the Airport Authority, the Civil Aviation Department, Customs & Excise Department, as well as the dedication, efficiency and hard work of all Hactl staff who shared in the same vision.
Hactl's contribution in supporting such an extraordinary and sustained growth during the last 25 years has been through adding capacity on a timely basis and working with the industry in the provision of facilities and innovative solutions to streamline processes and improve efficiency.
To cope with the steadily increasing air cargo volumes, Hactl has steadily enhanced its information technology capabilities in order to streamline the flow of information. This has included the introduction of its community system for air cargo (COSAC) in 1977, which allowed immediate information exchange between key members of the air cargo community by linking customs, airlines and cargo agents via a single system. More recently Hactl has also sought to streamline communications and the process of importing cargo by making COSAC available on the internet. A pre-arrival customs clearance service (PACCO) was introduced in 1997 to cargo agents under which Hactl provided customs clearance and simplified cargo collection services. The customs clearance process was further accelerated in 1997 through the establishment of ISAC, which enabled agents to submit cargo information electronically to customs via COSAC prior to flight arrival.
Looking forward, Mr Wong said if Hong Kong wanted to maintain and strengthen its position there was a need to adapt to a new environment and tackle a new set of challenges. This involves maintaining its qualitative edge and providing a superior service to end customers, many of whom are located in the Pearl River Delta and other parts of China in the face of increased competition from alternative airports in China. These airports are steadily improving their facilities and China's entrance to the World Trade Organisation is likely to enable them to offer more streamlined procedures and an increase in transparency.
"Hactl's focus in this are is to help to shorten cycle times between its SuperTerminal 1 and the end customers' operations in Hong Kong, the Pearl River Delta and elsewhere in the mainland through the introduction of a range of intermodal services. These include the launch of SuperLink Airport Direct - a range of in-terminal handling and delivery services to local airfreight forwarders under which Hactl can arrange shipment of goods direct to freight forwarders' warehouses or their consignees in Hong Kong."
"Last year this was complemented with the launch of SuperLink China Direct, a range of seamless, reliable and quick integrated air-road services between Hong Kong and the Mainland including a bonded truck service between Hong Kong and Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. As a result of a landmark agreement with Hong Kong and the Chinese customs, the standard transit time for this service is 4 - 5 hours.
"Hactl has also contributed to streamlining the transportation of goods by sea between Chek Lap Kok and the Pearl River Delta ports by forming a joint venture with Chu Kong Shipping to establish a Marine Cargo Terminal on Chek Lap Kok island which commenced operations in March this year. As a result goods arriving at the airport will be able to be transported directly to 24 ports in the Pearl River Delta and vice versa via direct daily barging services."
Over the next 12 months, Hactl intends to introduce a southbound service between Guangzhou and Hong Kong and sealed truck services to other destinations in southern China.
During this period Hactl also will seek to introduce measures which will assist the further streamlining of communications between members of the community and eliminate repetitive data entry. "In the final analysis we are only one link in the chain and we would not have been able to make the progress we have without the contribution of others in the air cargo community. We are already seeking to meet the future challenges by playing our part in streamlining procedures, the flow of information and communications with the industry community. For these and other reasons we are confident that both Hactl and Hong Kong will have a bright future," Mr Wong said.
Media Enquiry:
Lilian Chan, Corporate Communications Manager, Tel: (852) 2753 2042
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