Cainiao surcharge waiver may enhance Hong Kong supply chain management, experts say
- But city must still address lack of expertise in global sourcing and trading compliance, chairman of shipping council and academics say
The recent waiver of a residential surcharge by logistics company Cainiao might enhance Hong Kong’s supply chain management and boost global e-commerce by helping mainland Chinese companies to push their products across borders more easily, economists have said.
But a Hong Kong industry leader and head of a shipping council said the city needed more people skilled in global sourcing and trading compliance if it wanted to become a multinational supply chain management centre, as suggested to Chinese President Xi Jinping by city tycoon Victor Fung Kwok-king.
“Cainiao is now aggressively seeking more business opportunities to promote Hong Kong as its e-commerce base,” Lin said.
He added the company wanted more people to use its system and “that is why it has offered such a surcharge waiver”.
Cainiao announced last month that residential surcharges would be waived for deliveries in the city with immediate effect – which means users will not be charged extra if they require a door-to-door delivery.