GBA rolls out measures to further facilitate customs clearance

Recently, the customs authorities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) have expanded the “Single E-lock Scheme” to further promote the effective and efficient flow of various resources and factors of production in the region. 

Under the scheme, Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao Customs conducted real-time monitoring on batches of transshipment cargo using e-locks and GPS technology, enabling the transportation truck to arrive in Macao directly via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port and avoiding duplicate inspections by customs authorities.

During the launching ceremony, Feng Guoqing, Deputy Director General of the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the GACC, said that customs authorities in the GBA will continue deepening cooperation to further simplify the customs clearance procedures and accelerate the cargo shipment process.

The first batch of goods was successfully delivered to the Macao clearance point from DHL Central Asia Hub at Hong Kong International Airport via the HZMB and the newly constructed Macao Cross-Border Cargo Transfer Terminal in the vicinity of the HZMB Macao Port on March 8.

In recent years, customs authorities in Guangdong have been actively carrying out a series of cross-border reforms together with their counterparts in Hong Kong and Macao. In 2016, the "Single E-lock Scheme" was launched between Guangdong and Hong Kong. Later in 2020, the Guangdong-Macao Customs Single E-lock Scheme was also implemented, greatly enhancing customs clearance efficiency.

So far, the Single E-lock Scheme has covered seven cross-border ports, including Shenzhen Bay, Huanggang, HZMB, and Hengqin, directly connecting 10 GBA cities, 14 municipalities in Guangdong Province, and two cities in Hunan Province. (GD Today)