Mainland entry to the World Trade Organisation will mean more competition but Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd (Hactl) believes it can retain its competitive edge through speedier and more reliable service.
'It's not just a price game,' Mark Ashall, director of marketing and customer service said.
The push for smooth supply chains, lower inventory cost and shorter time-to-market in many manufacturing sectors meant efficiency was becoming increasingly important for air cargo handlers.
'More and more airlines are launching time-definite services,' Mr Ashall said.
'This is the way the market is going.' While airport authorities in the mainland are seeking to streamline procedures and improve efficiency, Mr Ashall believed they were still a long way from the SAR's standards.
'And in the meantime, we're moving too,' he said.