ifwla - Warehousing and Logistics International

territories - across many sectors. Financial Secretary
Tsang noted that maintaining close ties with the
mainland “will further reinforce Hong Kong’s leading
position in the global supply chain and enhance our
strengths in trade and logistics.”
In his 2011 budget address, the Financial Secretary
John Tsang vowed to ensure that Hong Kong can cope
with air traffic growth and to reinforce the maritime
service cluster.
Investment in Infrastructure Mega Projects
In order to further consolidate Hong Kong’s position
as a regional logistics hub and capitalise on our
competitive edge in handling high-value goods and
providing high value-added services, the government
has three infrastructure mega projects in the works.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge - 29.6
kilometres long - is expected to open in 2016. This
bridge will enhance the efficient, cost-effective
movement of cargo between Hong Kong and the
western Pearl River Delta – still very much the heart of
Guangdong province’s manufacturing base.
The new bridge “bears strategic and symbolic
importance to Hong Kong” said Eva Cheng, Secretary
for Transport and Housing and - the improved
connectivity will expand our cargo hinterland and open
up new consumer markets, bringing new impetus for
our freight and logistics sector.
Container Terminal 10 - within the ocean freight sector,
much of the container movements are mid-stream
trans-shipments, and so the government has
commissioned a feasibility study on the development of
a tenth container terminal.
Third Runway - at the airport, the current two runway
system will be at maximum capacity by 2015 – a
new daily flight handling record was set on 30 March
2011 with 983 aircraft movements. Hence, within the
framework of the Master Plan 2030 Study, the Airport
Authority is now evaluating the feasibility of building a
third runway – which is being called for by businesses
large and small, throughout both the industrial and the
logistics sectors.
Sustainable Competitive Advantage
Hong Kong’s sustainable competitive advantage as
a leading global logistics hub will revolve around three
pivotal competencies – best in class international
transhipment hub, centre of excellence for logistics
skills and leadership in e-logistics.
As a transhipment hub, Hong Kong will continue to
grow. In 2011, the International Air Transport
Association (IATA) forecast that Hong Kong will be the
world’s fastest-growing air cargo market, “growing
12.2 per cent annually over the next two years” such
that cargo volumes will increase to 5.3 million tonnes
in 2014.
Form the e-logistics perspective, increasingly widespread
adoption of e-freight initiatives throughout the
international air and ocean cargo sectors is increasing
efficiencies whilst providing environmental benefits
such as reducing paperwork. Within the cross border
trucking sector, introduction of electronic submission of
road cargo information enables seamless customs
clearance at the land boundary control points. GPS
communications technology is now also widespread in
the fleet management of trucking companies, with the
On-Board Trucker Information System (OBTIS).
Mark Millar Hong Kong 47
Firmly reinforcing its position as a leading regional
centre of excellence for logistics industry skills and
talent development, Hong Kong is home to 60
educational and vocational training institutions,
offering more than 1,000 programmes and courses
related to logistics and shipping. Government funded
training allowance s benefit small and medium
enterprises.
Conclusion
Looking to the future, I am very confident that Hong
Kong will continue its role as a leading global logistics
hub – by means of its strategic location, its businessfriendly
government and its sustainable competitive
advantage.
Industry and government together envisage Hong
Kong’s future positioning as a global logistics hub
providing high value-added services and handling
high value products - as well as strengthening its role
as the logistics gateway to mainland China, with the
support of state-of-the-art infrastructural facilities and
trade facilitation measures.
Achieving the number one position of the world’s
air cargo hubs and maintaining its position as the
world’s number three sea container seaport, Hong
Kong is indisputably one of the world’s leading logistics
hubs - enabling effective and efficient global supply
chain ecosystems.
Mark Millar MBA, PMHKLA, FCILT
Mark Millar leverages over 20 years of global business
experience to provide independent Consulting,
Education and Advisory services that create value for
clients by improving the performance of their logistics
and supply chain activities in China and the Asia
Pacific region.
Acknowledged as an industry thought leader, clients
have engaged Mark as Speaker, Moderator, Master of
Ceremonies or Conference Chairman at more than
200 functions in 17 countries – including Hong Kong,
Singapore, China, Macau, Vietnam, Kazakhstan,
Dubai, India, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, South
Korea, England, USA and Australia. His articles are
regularly published by trade magazines in five
languages in seven countries.
Mark serves on the advisory board of several leading
organisations and his industry contributions have been
recognised with a number of accolades, including
being named in the “Who's Who of Power Players in
Supply Chain Management in China", the “Pro’s-to-
Know Thought Leaders in Supply Chain” and as “One
of the most Progressive People in World Logistics”.
Contact him at mark@markmillar.com
www.warehousinglogisticsinternational.com Issue No.3