Land cargo transport from Hong Kong to Macau got off the ground yesterday when the newly completed cross-border cargo transfer station at the Macau checkpoint area of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) was officially inaugurated.
The construction of the cross-border cargo transfer station at the HZMB Macau checkpoint area, which got off the ground at the end of last year, was completed in May this year.
At the new facility, which operates 24/7, goods are transferred from Hong Kong-registered vehicles to Macau-registered ones without the former having to complete the Macau Special Administrative Region’s (MSAR) arrival and customs inspection formalities. After the goods transfer process is completed, the Hong Kong goods vehicles can then return to Hong Kong via the HZMB.
Before yesterday, Hong Kong-Macau cargo could only be moved by sea.
The Macau government held an inauguration ceremony at the cross-border cargo transfer station yesterday morning, which was attended by Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) Director Tai Kin Ip, Macau Customs Service Assistant Director-General Lei Iok Fai, and Transport Bureau (DSAT) Deputy Director Chiang Ngoc Vai, as well as senior representatives of the local logistics industry.
The Macau and Hong Kong governments signed an agreement last month enabling land cargo transport between the two cities via the HZMB. In addition to enabling the transfer of cargo from Hong Kong-registered vehicles to Macau-registered ones at the cross-border cargo transfer station at the HZMB Macau checkpoint area, the agreement, which took effect yesterday, also enables the transfer of cargo from Macau-registered vehicles to Hong Kong-registered ones at the logistics facilities at Hong Kong’s airport, according to a statement by the Hong Kong government on Monday.
Delivering a speech at yesterday’s inauguration ceremony, Tai noted that the operational start of the cross-border cargo transfer station at the HZMB Macau checkpoint area has now enabled land cargo transport between Hong Kong and Macau.
Tai said that the new facility enables logistics companies in both cities to choose between using sea transport or land transport depending on their respective needs, adding that the two means of cargo transport between the two cities are “complementary” to each other.
Tai noted that Hong Kong has “always” been Macau’s top trading partner as currently around 80 percent of goods imported by Macau are delivered via Hong Kong. Tai said that the cross-border cargo transfer station would further promote trade cooperation between the two cities.
Tai also urged the local logistics companies to make good use of the cross-border cargo transfer station.
Despite the fact that the cross-border cargo transfer station is located in MSAR territory, Macau-registered goods vehicles are required to complete departure and customs inspection formalities before travelling to the station.
Customs clearance services are not provided at the cross-border cargo transfer station. Cargo that has been transferred to Macau-registered vehicles at the station is then required to undergo customs clearance at the HZMB Macau Customs post.
Fees
At the cross-border cargo transfer station, the transfer of shipping containers from Hong Kong-registered tractor-trailers to Macau-registered ones are charged at 200 patacas per 30 minutes.
The transfer of cargo from Hong Kong-registered trucks to Macau-registered trucks are charged at 550 patacas per 40 minutes.
The transfer of cargo from a shipping container with a length of 40 feet or above carried by a Hong Kong-registered tractor-trailer to Macau-registered trucks are charged at 1,100 patacas per 40 minutes.
The transfer of cargo from a shipping container with a length of fewer than 40 feet carried by a Hong Kong-registered tractor-trailer to Macau-registered trucks are charged at 700 patacas per 40 minutes.
The fees for the four types of services at the cross-border cargo transfer station listed above are charged provided that an appointment for using the services has been made. If no appointment has been made, the fees are four times, i.e., 300 percent higher than the fees when a booking has been made.
A company has been hired by the local government to operate the cross-border cargo transfer station at the HZMB Macau checkpoint area. After yesterday’s inauguration ceremony, representatives from the company briefed the guests on the station’s operation.
In addition, a reach stacker transferred a shipping container from a Hong Kong-registered tractor-trailer to a Macau-registered tractor-trailer at the station after the inauguration ceremony, marking the station’s operational start.
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Tai said that the station is able to tackle up to 800 goods vehicles a day, i.e., 400 vehicles each from Macau and Hong Kong.
A reach stacker transfers a shipping container from a Hong Kong-registered tractor-trailer (behind) to a Macau-registered tractor-trailer (front) at the cross-border cargo transfer station at the Macau checkpoint area of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) after yesterday’s inauguration ceremony. – Photo: Tony Wong
This photo taken yesterday shows the new cross-border cargo transfer station at the HZMB Macau checkpoint area. – Photo: Tony Wong
