Logistics Data Sharing:  Pioneering a New Era for Financial, Trade, and Shipping Centres

August 2, 2025

I attended the "Data Summit 2025", co-hosted by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Hong Kong Association of Banks last Monday (July 28) and it was a pleasure reconnecting with old friends from my time at the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, but what truly excited me was the inaugural participation of the Transport and Logistics Bureau at this year's Summit.

Big data may appear irrelevant for many, yet it is a critical source which drives global competition and defines the future economy. Our motherland has strategically positioned Hong Kong as the International Financial, Trade and Shipping Centres, each reinforcing the others. The financial centre fuels trade with capital flows, while the trade centre relies on transport and logistics to enable the movement of goods, creating a cycle of mutual prosperity. To unlock new opportunities and maximize the synergy of these three pillars, we must harness the power of data flows as the linchpin. This is precisely the unique value proposition of the Project CargoX, a highlight at the Data Summit.

The CargoX simplifies financing processes by utilising air logistics data from the “HKIA Cargo”─ the digital platform developed and managed by the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) ─ and the maritime logistics data provided by the "Port Community System" (PCS). This not only supports transport and logistics enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but also opens new business opportunities for the financial and trade sectors. By seamlessly connecting the three centres, it enables cross-sectoral development of new economic growth points.

The Data Summit 2025, co-hosted by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Hong Kong Association of Banks, marks the first participation of the Transport and Logistics Bureau.

Customised Logistics Financing Solutions with updated version of "Commercial Data Interchange"

In 2021, AAHK launched a one-stop air cargo data platform, the HKIA Cargo, which integrates five core modules covering application units related to air cargo: Import, Export, Trade Declaration, Sea-Air Transshipment Facilitation Scheme and Dongguan Logistics Park. It connects over 530 freight forwarders and related businesses, more than 130 airlines, three air cargo terminals, and three regulatory bodies including Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department; the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, marking a new era for air logistics data in Hong Kong.

For maritime logistics, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM), is spearheading the development of the government-led PCS. It connects the entire port and reorganises previously fragmented logistics supply chain data into a seamless, one-stop solution that tracks shipments from the exporter (the cargo owner) to the port terminal operators. By offering comprehensive tracking for multimodal cargo, the PCS guarantees complete supply chain transparency. This digital transformation significantly reduces reliance on manual input, thereby boosting efficiency and fostering faster, more agile logistics operations.

PCS will also expand its functionalities, including "One-Data-Multiple-Declarations" for cross-border logistics, offering pre-filled shipping manifest functionalities for vessels entering the Greater Bay Area ports, enhancing collaboration with mainland ports. The establishment of the PCS creates a foundational platform for Hong Kong to integrate with international port communities and global shipping business data systems, keeping us closely connected to the core of the digital shipping world.

After securing funding from the Legislative Council in March, we are rapidly advancing the development of the PCS, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year and widely used by the industry in January next year, potentially supporting at least 50,000 users ─ more than half of the trade and logistics companies in Hong Kong.

Building on the success of its renowned “Commercial Data Interchange" for SME-bank data sharing, the HKMA is now leveraging data from HKIA Cargo and the PCS to extend this proven framework into a dedicated logistics version known as “CargoX”.

The Hong Kong Airport Authority introduces the HKIA Cargo Data Platform at the Data Summit 2025.

Amy, the Commissioner for Maritime and Port Development Port, visits the booth set up to introduce the Port Community System at the Data Summit 2025.

Data Sharing: Saving Money, Labour, and Time

One of the key financing challenges in the logistics industry has been the extensive paperwork associated with customs declarations and inventory receipts, compounded by inconsistent document formats and units across different regions. In the past, banks had to dedicate considerable manpower and time to manually review and verify documents. They often required businesses to provide operational reports for loan approvals, which could be quite challenging for SMEs. Now, banks can obtain reliable and secured data from the CargoX ─ built on information from the HKIA Cargo and the PCS ─ banks can reduce the time for document verification from days to minutes, significantly saving time and labour costs for both banks and businesses. For instance, the platform's real-time tracking enables advancement transportation fees by the freight forwarders to be disbursed as soon as the cargo lands, allowing smoother operations and improved cash flow across the entire industry.

In addition to logistics and shipping, the Government is also actively developing the aircraft leasing market. Last year, we optimised the aircraft leasing tax incentives, offering competitive profits tax benefits, which, together with Hong Kong's robust legal and financial systems, create unprecedented opportunities for aircraft leasing and aircraft parts leasing/trade. Market forecasts suggest that the global aircraft leasing market will reach USD 266.71 billion by 2027, with an annual growth rate of 7.8%, and could reach USD 295.2 billion by 2029.

Amid ongoing challenges from trade wars and uncertainties that are reshaping trade and supply chains, and the broader economic landscape, initiatives like the HKIA Cargo, the PCS, or the CargoX are leveraging innovative technology and creative thinking to unlock new opportunities. The role of transport and logistics has transcended mere physical delivery ─ behind the movement of people and goods lies a wealth of business potential. This week, the Government further underscored Hong Kong’s strengths with the release of its latest " Report on Hong Kong's Business Environment: Unique Strengths under 'One Country, Two Systems'", which highlights the city’s competitive edge across multiple sectors. I believe that with our distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, combined with competitive tax policies, a sound legal framework, a robust financial market, and a top-notch data infrastructure, all driven by the adaptable spirit of Hong Kong’s businesses, our roles of international aviation hub and shipping centre will continue to break new ground and generate brand new value.