Shenzhen customs authorities and local private firms will launch a bonded trucking relay service next month aimed at easing the cross-border flow of goods in a move eventually expected to reduce container haulage costs to the main terminals in Hong Kong.
The so-called 'green lane' scheme will allow truckers to unload containers at a depot near the Shenzhen border where customs procedures are completed before the box is delivered by a separate vehicle under electronic surveillance by mainland authorities.
The project, devised by the Wharf group's Modern Terminals, OnePort and Shenzhen customs authorities, will use land controlled by state-owned Shenzhen South-China International Logistics Co (Silc) for the hand-off. The final trial run is scheduled for March 18.
'The 'green lane' project is another incremental step towards [streamlining cross-border trucking]. Initially, we expect quite a lot of the traffic to be empties and laden boxes heading from Hong Kong up into China,' said OnePort chief executive Saimond Ip.
'In essence, we have changed the border to Silc because [Lok Ma Chau] lacks the capacity to conduct the interchange.'
Silc is majority held by red chip Shenzhen International Holdings which has a market capitalisation of $3.46 billion and is 7 per cent owned by Li Ka-shing controlled interests.
