Launch of Port Community System project to drive smart port development (with photos)
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The launch ceremony was officiated by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan; Legislative Council Member Mr Frankie Yick; the Commissioner for Maritime and Port Development, Miss Amy Chan; and the Chief Executive Officer of the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM), Mr Simon Wong. This milestone underscores Hong Kong's commitment to fostering cross-sector collaboration and technological innovation to build a PCS that will comprehensively enhance the competitiveness of the maritime, port, logistics and trade industries.
"The PCS is a critical infrastructure for the future development of Hong Kong's port and maritime sectors. It marks a significant step in our port community's digital transformation. Led by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and widely supported by the industry, the PCS digitally connects Hong Kong, the Mainland and the international maritime community. It will also help facilitate trade and capital flows, enhance Hong Kong's resilience and influence as an international maritime centre to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex international environment, and serve our country's strategic goal of becoming a maritime powerhouse," said Ms Chan.
The PCS's pilot data-sharing platform began phased testing of specific cargo clearance processes in early 2023, and incorporated feedback from industry stakeholders continuously. After rigorous testing and optimisation, the LSCM will assist the TLB in the full development of the system, with installation to be completed by the end of 2025 and implementation for industry use starting in early 2026. The system will provide round-the-clock, real-time cargo tracking, integrate sea, land, and air transport data, and offer value-added electronic services such as the "One-Data-Multiple-Declarations" function.
During the launch ceremony, the TLB signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding with the LSCM and Guangdong e-Port Management Company Limited. The areas of collaboration include exploring the use of the PCS to provide a pre-filling and pre-submission function for ocean manifests for vessels entering the Mainland, so as to provide further convenience for system users. The HKSAR Government will continue to explore with other Mainland ports the arrangements for enhancing co-operation.
Grasping the time during which the system is being built, the TLB will initiate a new phase of trial in collaboration with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to explore leveraging cargo status data within the PCS to facilitate trade finance processes, with a view to helping financial institutions and small and medium enterprises reduce credit costs and processing time.
To ensure the system aligns with industry needs, the TLB has established a Strategic Advisory Panel and an Industry Expert Liaison Group, bringing together industry leaders to provide insights on the PCS's development. Ms Chan expressed gratitude to industry experts for their support and presented certificates of appreciation to companies that participated in the PCS trials, recognising their vital contributions to the project.
Ends/Friday, May 16, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:40
Issued at HKT 18:40
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