Secretary for Transport & Logistics Lam Sai-hung today visited Zhanjiang to learn about the latest logistics developments in the western part of Guangdong and explore collaboration opportunities between Hong Kong and the city.

Mr Lam attended a meeting of the task force for collaboration on Guangdong-Hong Kong transportation in Guangzhou yesterday before setting off for Zhanjiang for today’s itinerary.

The transport chief toured the Zhanjiang Port and the Zhanjiang Comprehensive Bonded Area for a briefing on the sea-rail intermodal transport at the Zhanjiang Port and how the bonded area leverages big data to enhance information systems, accelerating cargo flow and facilitating customs clearance.

He then toured the advanced facilities of a leading cold-chain logistics company in Guangdong Province.

At a meeting with Zhanjiang Municipal Government Mayor Zeng Jinze and municipal government officials to discuss issues of mutual concern, Mr Lam said that since the commissioning of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the driving distance between Hong Kong and the western part of Guangdong has been shortened extensively, which presents unprecedented opportunities for deeper collaboration between the two places.

Hong Kong, underpinned by an open and free market, a well-established legal system as well as its premier financial and professional services and comprehensive intermodal transport networks connecting the Mainland and other nations, is the prime gateway for trade and logistics between southern China and the world, he added.

Noting that Hong Kong has a distinct role as an international shipping centre, an international aviation and logistics hub as well as an international trade centre, Mr Lam said the western part of Guangdong has a huge base of industries with a booming bulk commodity trade in Zhanjiang and is well-connected to the southwest provinces.

He pointed out that by adding up the strengths of Hong Kong and Zhanjiang's strengths, the two places will definitely create strong synergies and open up a new logistics and trade corridor.