JD.com boosts Northern Metropolis logistics hub, but hurdles loom: experts
JD.com may be a major logistics leader in mainland China, but as part of a joint venture that won the first land project in the Northern Metropolis, it must overcome labour and road traffic hurdles to become an economic driver in Hong Kong, experts have said. Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, chairman of the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company – the first government-owned entity established to accelerate…
JD.com, a major logistics leader in mainland China, has secured a significant logistics hub project in Hong Kong as part of a joint venture. However, the company faces hurdles such as labor shortages and road traffic congestion in the Northern Metropolis, according to experts. Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, chairman of the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company, stated that JD.com's involvement would boost investor confidence and attract others to join the project.
The 10.5-hectare project in Hung Shui Kiu involves the development of commercial land parcels and sites for public facilities. JD.com will occupy 15,300 square meters within the facility, representing 30% of its total gross floor area. The company's robotic technologies, including the "Smart Wolf" and "Alien Wolf" systems, will be deployed to enhance logistics efficiency.
However, Gary Lau Ho-yin, chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics, cautioned that road traffic in the area may pose challenges for JD.com's delivery operations. Ching Chi-wai, founder of the Elegant Logistics Group, acknowledged JD.com's potential to create logistics clusters in the region but agreed that the company would face high labor costs in Hong Kong to remain competitive.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
