Answering legislators on 21 January, Commerce and Economic Development Secretary Algernon Yau revealed that Hong Kong Customs is working with Mainland counterparts to extend the Single E-lock Scheme (SELS) to the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, pushing the network beyond its current 93 clearance points. The electronic seal and GPS programme eliminates duplicate inspections by both customs services, shaving hours off each truck run and cementing Hong Kong’s role as a trans-shipment hub.(info.gov.hk)
Since its 2016 launch, SELS has grown to cover 13 Hong Kong checkpoints, 65 in Guangdong, four in Hunan, seven in Fujian and four in Macao. The newest prong—Fujian-Guangdong-Hong Kong—went live in July 2024, enabling Xiamen freight to roll straight into the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) air-side cargo area under a single electronic seal.(info.gov.hk)
Industry bodies praise the system for slashing paperwork and boosting security: tamper-evident e-locks generate real-time alerts if containers deviate from approved routes. Yau said authorities are studying whether Zhuhai Airport’s new International Intelligent Logistics Park can be folded into the scheme, further integrating the Greater Bay Area’s air-cargo ecosystem.
![Hong Kong eyes new cross-border cargo points as Single E-lock Scheme nears 100 sites]()
For logistics teams that must quickly dispatch staff across borders to supervise these sealed shipments, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal can streamline the visa and permit process. The online platform (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) handles China business visas, Hong Kong entry permits and dozens of other travel documents, ensuring personnel reach the cargo on time without embassy queues disrupting tight delivery schedules.
Complementary projects are also in play. Construction of the HKIA Dongguan Logistics Park and trials of sea-air trans-shipment corridors promise to funnel more Mainland exports through Hong Kong’s global flight network. Mobility managers moving high-value or time-sensitive goods should map these developments into their supply-chain strategies.
The push comes amid fiercer competition from neighbouring airports, making efficiency gains vital for retaining Hong Kong’s logistics clout. Getting Guangxi on board would open routes to ASEAN markets and speed e-commerce flows, reinforcing the “backed by the motherland, connected to the world” mantra cited by lawmakers.
Since its 2016 launch, SELS has grown to cover 13 Hong Kong checkpoints, 65 in Guangdong, four in Hunan, seven in Fujian and four in Macao. The newest prong—Fujian-Guangdong-Hong Kong—went live in July 2024, enabling Xiamen freight to roll straight into the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) air-side cargo area under a single electronic seal.(info.gov.hk)
Industry bodies praise the system for slashing paperwork and boosting security: tamper-evident e-locks generate real-time alerts if containers deviate from approved routes. Yau said authorities are studying whether Zhuhai Airport’s new International Intelligent Logistics Park can be folded into the scheme, further integrating the Greater Bay Area’s air-cargo ecosystem.
For logistics teams that must quickly dispatch staff across borders to supervise these sealed shipments, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal can streamline the visa and permit process. The online platform (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) handles China business visas, Hong Kong entry permits and dozens of other travel documents, ensuring personnel reach the cargo on time without embassy queues disrupting tight delivery schedules.
Complementary projects are also in play. Construction of the HKIA Dongguan Logistics Park and trials of sea-air trans-shipment corridors promise to funnel more Mainland exports through Hong Kong’s global flight network. Mobility managers moving high-value or time-sensitive goods should map these developments into their supply-chain strategies.
The push comes amid fiercer competition from neighbouring airports, making efficiency gains vital for retaining Hong Kong’s logistics clout. Getting Guangxi on board would open routes to ASEAN markets and speed e-commerce flows, reinforcing the “backed by the motherland, connected to the world” mantra cited by lawmakers.
