ATTN: Shipping & Logistics Editors
HAFFA CELEBRATES ASUCCESSFUL 2006
The Hongkong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics Limited (HAFFA) celebrated a successful 2006 at its Annual Spring Dinner, held on Friday, March 30, announcing a record year and an optimistic outlook for 2007.
More than 800 professionals from the freight forwarding and logistics industries, airline and shipping sectors joined the dinner with special guests Legislative Councillor the Honourable Miriam Lau, JP,Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Labour Ms. Janice Tse, JP and Director General of Civil Aviation Mr. Norman Lo, JP.
Last year was a robust and exciting one for the industry in Hong Kong, with anair cargo throughput of 3.6 million tones, representing a healthy growth of 5.2percent over 2005. The total port handling capacity reached 23.2 million TEUs (Twenty Feet Equivalent Unit), an increase of 2.8 percent over the previous year.
Following HAFFA’s 40th anniversary the industry faced a new wave of challenges, one of the most significant being the consultation on the proposed Goods and Services Tax. HAFFA was proactive on behalf of the members, immediately forming a GST task force which included a professional consultant to undertake an in-depth study of the impact of the proposed tax.
Commented HAFFA Hon. Secretary, Mr. Kelly King: “Although the Financial Secretary announced at the end of last year that the plan to introduce GST was to be shelved, a full report was submitted to the Government detailing how the issues involved might have a severely negative impact on Hong Kong’s position as a freight forwarding and logistics hub. It is the Association’s belief that such issues would still be relevant and need to be resolved if the topics to be re-introduced in future.”
In response to theInternational Air Transport Association’s(IATA) invitation to launch a pilot e-freight scheme on key trade routes linking Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Canada and the Netherlandsin 2007 in support of the industry’s global bid to free air cargo of paper, HAFFA has been actively involved in supporting the development of the business elements of the e-freight framework to allow airlines, freight forwarders, Customs and others parties to seamlessly exchange electronic information and e-documents. Being one of the pioneer locations with high cargo volumes, the Association believes this will bring radical changes to future cargo operations.
Looking to the future, HAFFA is actively seeking ways to ensure industry standards are maintained and enhanced with comprehensive training schemes. Continued Mr. King: “HAFFA believes the growth in the cargo industry will not only require additional cargo facilities and advanced communications technology but also, perhaps moreimportantly, improving the performance of logistics-related personnel. In addition to working with the Carrier Liaison Group and the Education Manpower Bureau on the successful “Skill Upgrading Scheme” for frontline staff, HAFFA has collaborated with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) to develop a training programme for newcomers”.
The Hongkong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics Limited was established in 1966, and is responsible for setting industry standards as well as providing educational courses which enhance the professional standards of the freight forwarders and logistics providers in Hong Kong.
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April 10, 2007
Issued on behalf of the Hongkong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics Limited by PR Plus Limited. For further information, please contact Marco Tsang on telephone 2575-6995, fax 2838-1260 or email: .