HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s new international airport, to open at Chek Lap Kok in July, will include a state-of-the art airmail center which is expected to speed up overseas mail services.
The center is located in the main area of the airport, next to the air cargo section, and will boast sorting and air container facilities.
“We have taken the opportunity to not only replace our existing facility at Kai Tak airport, which is presently in operation, but upgrade our technology,” said Suresh Mansukhani, chief controller, for the state-owned Hong Kong Post.
“The center will provide tracking facilities and speed up the process of handling airmail,” he added.
He said it was too soon to say exactly what services would be on offer for US direct mailers and whether postal costs will rise.
But he said the new mail sort facility would provide quicker and more comprehensive services for US companies mailing to Hong Kong.
The Chek Lap Kok airport undertaking is one of 10 infrastructure projects of the Airport Core Program.
The airport will be linked by 20 miles of express highway, a high speed rail link and the world’s longest road-rail suspension bridge. There will also be a cross harbor tunnel linking Hong Kong with Kowloon and a new town development.
It will be able to handle twice the volume of passengers and cargo of the Kai Tak airport.
Mansukhani also added that the Beijing government had been supportive of the mail center and of postal services since the hand-over last year.
“We’ve not really noticed any difference, it’s been very stable. Any change has been negligible” he said.
“Our motto is business as normal,” he added.
