The Import & Export (Amendment) Bill 2007, which will enable the Chief Executive in Council to make regulations that provide for the electronic lodging of advance cargo information, was gazetted today and will be tabled at the Legislative Council on April 18.

Subject to legislative and funding approval, the Government plans to roll out the system in 2009 and mandate electronic advance cargo information submissions for road cargo after an 18-month transitional period, the Commerce, Industry & Technology Bureau says.

With the electronic system, all cross-boundary trucks, except those selected for inspection, will enjoy seamless customs clearance at land boundary checkpoints. The Customs & Excise Department will also have more room to facilitate the passage of transhipment cargo that involves inter-modal transfer.

International and regional initiatives which ride on e-ACI are emerging among Hong Kong's major trading partners to facilitate and secure the international supply chain of cargo. China also sets out its vision that APEC should strive to achieve electronic customs clearance at the checkpoints of all APEC economies by 2010.

The Government needs to complete electronic customs clearance infrastructure in a timely manner to maintain Hong Kong's competitiveness as an international trading centre, it said.