The Transport & Logistics Bureau announced today the implementation of multiple measures to promote smart, green, sustainable and modern logistics development.

They include the formal rollout of the Port Community System (PCS) and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Data Collection Tools, as well as the release of the findings of the planning study on the development of a modern logistics cluster in Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area (HSK/HT NDA).

In terms of smart logistics, the PCS, a critical digital infrastructure developed by the Government with over $200 million in funding, was formally rolled out today.

It provides one-stop, round-the-clock, real-time cargo tracking and links up sea, land, and air transport networks, thereby holistically enhancing the transparency, efficiency and interconnectivity of the logistics chain.

Apart from its core function of real-time cargo tracking, the system will also offer value-added electronic services such as the "One-Data-Multiple-Declarations" function. By facilitating cargo import and export declarations by the industry, the system will provide one-stop services for local logistics and trading companies, thereby supporting the upgrading of the industry.

At today's PCS rollout ceremony, the bureau also signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding with the Logistics & Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre and a local logistics startup company, FUNDel, to accelerate the connection between the PCS and data platforms of the logistics industry, as well as study the utilisation of the trusted cargo flow data on the PCS to help financial institutions assess trade finance applications filed by relevant logistics small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), thereby supporting the sustainable development of the logistics industry.

Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan said the Government will follow the guidance of the Recommendations for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world to maintain Hong Kong’s position as the region's leading international logistics hub, thereby better integrating into and serving the overall national development.

ESG is a new international development trend for the logistics trade. Further to the Government's announcement of the Roadmap for ESG Development for Logistics Industry last June which outlined a clear way forward for adopting ESG by logistics SMEs, the bureau today further released a set of ESG Data Collection Tools (the Toolkit) tailored for logistics SMEs, with a view to assisting them in taking the first step towards putting ESG into practice.

The Toolkit includes a user-friendly data collection template, a data dictionary and a user manual. It aims to equip SMEs with the ability to collect and record ESG data early and use the collected data to prepare ESG data reports that fulfil international ESG disclosure requirements.

In the long run, logistics SMEs may even utilise the data for reviewing and improving their ESG performance, thereby helping to build up the Hong Kong logistics industry's sustainability credentials and enhance its competitiveness.

Interested companies may register online to obtain the toolkit for free.

As for the findings of the planning study on the development of  a modern logistics cluster in the HSK/HT NDA, the study suggests that the logistics cluster should adopt three major development directions - enterprise-oriented, have a market-enabling environment and an innovative approach to drive industry development.

It also suggests measures such as providing tailor-made entry terms for anchor enterprises and increasing the flexibility of development modes, with a view to ensuring the development of the logistics cluster meets the trends and demands of the market.