'Freight villages' will speed up cross-border trade, says Tsang

Customs clearance for cargo moving between Hong Kong and the mainland will be simplified under a proposal raised yesterday at a meeting of a high-level committee on cross-border co-ordination.

Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen also said a preliminary study by Hong Kong and mainland officials on a proposed bridge linking Hong Kong and the west coast of the Pearl River Delta was expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Speaking after attending the Mainland-Hong Kong Conference on Co-ordination of Major Infrastructure Projects, Mr Tsang said the Inland Freight Villages proposal could boost the territory's logistics industry, which employs about 100,000 staff.

Under the proposal, cargo cleared by Hong Kong Customs at the 'villages', including airports, ports and other venues, could head for destinations without having to be checked by Customs officials at border checkpoints.

The cargo would still have to be cleared by Customs at the destinations. The practice will also apply to mainland exports to Hong Kong.

Cargo with seals recognised by the Customs of both sides would enjoy such convenience. 'The new practice can definitely enhance the efficiency of cargo delivery across the border,' Mr Tsang said.