Hong Kong is an important international trading and logistics hub in the Asia Pacific region given its strategic location, mature logistics industry and sophisticated infrastructure. In particular, Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok is the world's busiest airport in terms of air cargo handling. Under China's 12th Five-year Plan, the Central government will support Hong Kong's development of high-value goods inventory management and regional distribution centres.
In view of this, we were commissioned by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, working together with the Li & Fung Institute of Supply Chain Management and Logistics (Chinese University of Hong Kong) to carry out the Consultancy Study on Competitiveness of Hong Kong as a Regional Distribution Centre (RDC).
The study examined Hong Kong's strengths and weaknesses as an RDC, vis-a-vis other locations in the region, including Singapore, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Taiwan and Seoul.
Our consultants travelled to each study location to discuss with numerous stakeholders, including government officials, RDC service providers, manufacturers and other users.
Over 450 logistics executives and end-users were surveyed. Together, the consultations and survey provided an in-depth understanding of the key issues, success factors and insights on the relative competitiveness of Asia's leading RDCs.
Such a large response base within a limited timeframe was only made possible due to our wide network and reputation.
Considering the challenges and opportunities ahead, and reinforced by statistical analysis of the survey results, we formulated balanced, strategic measures that Hong Kong should take to maintain a sustainable distribution industry.
China has pledged to support Hong Kong's development of high-value goods inventory management and Regional Distribution Centres (RDCs).
With improved port capacity and quality available at Shenzhen and other Pearl River Delta ports, as well as the increasing competitiveness of supporting services such as ship management, ship finance and maritime arbitration in Shanghai and Singapore, Hong Kong will need to improve and evolve port and maritime services to increase market share in future years.
SkyPier at Hong Kong International Airport provides speedy ferry service for transfer passengers. We were responsible for the ferry pontoons that act as the principal interface for passengers and baggage.
We assisted in the development of offshore oil facilities on Pulau Busing Island, off Singapore's busy south coast. The work was motivated by the increasing costs of oil, and our team was in place to assess a total engineering design and project management consultancy for four new jetties.