Hong Kong and Guangdong have agreed to relax licensing requirements, regulations and customs clearance to reduce cross-boundary trucking costs. Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Stephen Ip told legislators today the new measures will benefit the local port and logistics industry.

He said key issues affecting trucking cost, including the "four-up-four-down" and "one-truck-one-driver" requirements, and the indirect truck-licensing scheme, have been pursued with the Mainland Customs General Administration and Guangdong authorities.

The province will allow cross-boundary container trucks to apply for reserve drivers in addition to assigned drivers. Procedures relating to the licence quota scheme will also be simplified and the licence period extended from three to five years. The new measures will be implemented when formal approval is granted by the provincial government.

It will also extend customs operating hours according to cargo volume and the practical needs of different regions. The operating hours of a selected control point in Jiangmen will be extended to midnight on a trial basis.

Mr Ip said since January 1, the "four-up-four-down" rule has been relaxed. Truck trailers and containers no longer need to be "tied together" to cross the boundary. He said the new measures will benefit the industry, and discussions with Guangdong will continue.