bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

FREIGHT forwarder Ideal Pacific Holdings will apply to upgrade its 17 representative offices in China to branch level status after the Lunar New Year.

Vice-chairman Helen Fu Wai-hung said new regulations governing the establishment of branch offices on the mainland introduced by Beijing in May last year had not filtered down to the provincial level yet.

 'We expect some of the provinces to implement these regulations by the middle of this year,' she said.

 Ideal Pacific conducts its business in China through state-owned freight forwarders.

 When branch level status is accorded, Ideal Pacific will have the power to handle documentation, including issuance of bills of lading, and move freight directly from clients instead of having to go through Chinese freight forwarders such as Panavico or Sinotrans.

  Ms Fu said the company was negotiating with Shenzhen Futian Free Trade Zone authorities to lease land for a container depot.

  Negotiations were being hampered by the high price the authorities were asking for the land.

 The company was eyeing this area because Hong Kong container trucks without mainland truck licences could operate from the territory up to this point, she said.

 'From this area, we can service both Hong Kong and Shenzhen, if the deal materialises.'  The company, engaged in sea, air and road freight forwarding, was discussing with various parties the expansion of its agency network, particularly in China, Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa and North America, she said.

 Ms Fu said the company was trying to obtain more cargo agency business in order to offer a better choice to its clients.



Ideal Pacific to seek branch status in China