Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) have officially launched the Air-Land Fresh Lane, a new logistics channel designed to accelerate the delivery of fresh food imports into the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
The launch ceremony was officiated by senior officials including Chan Tsz-tat, Commissioner of Customs and Excise; Vivian Cheung, CEO of Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK); Wang Baoren, Committee Member of the Communist Party of China of Gongbei Customs District; Meng Xiaoyuan, Deputy Director-General of the Police Liaison Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Donald Ng, Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene; and Frankie Yick, Legislative Council Member for the Transport functional constituency.
More than 200 representatives from the air cargo and fresh produce sectors attended the ceremony.
Faster Transshipment Through HKIA and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
The initiative, which began trial operations in April, streamlines transshipment clearance procedures for chilled aquatic products, live seafood, and fruits. Using a dedicated channel, imported goods can now reach Zhuhai for Mainland customs clearance and enter the GBA within just three hours of arriving in Hong Kong by air.
Strengthening HKIA’s Cargo Hub Role
Vivian Cheung, CEO of AAHK, said:
“AAHK has committed to enhancing connectivity with the GBA, to further extend HKIA’s efficient and premium cargo services to the region through novel intermodal cargo transshipments. The Air-Land Fresh Lane expands HKIA’s catchment area and helps Hong Kong’s trade and logistics industries seize new business opportunities, further strengthening HKIA’s leading position in the air cargo industry.”
Cross-Border Collaboration
Chan Tsz-tat, Commissioner of Customs and Excise, added:
“By overcoming difficulties and resolving problems one by one, C&ED was able to align relevant regulations between Hong Kong and the Mainland, developing a new regulatory model to streamline fresh food transshipment clearance. Following the full launch of the Air-Land Fresh Lane, C&ED will continue to deepen co-operation with the Mainland to jointly promote the economic development of the Greater Bay Area.”