Hong Kong has extended its participation in a Secure Freight Initiative (SFI) pilot until April 30, 2009.
The SFI is a U.S. government program to safeguard global maritime cargo through cooperation with the maritime industry and governments of trading partners. Radiation detection, imaging and related equipment scan maritime cargo containers to detect and interdict illicit trafficking of nuclear material and other radioactive material destined for the U.S.
In July 2007, Hong Kong and the U.S. exchanged letters of understanding to conduct a limited SFI pilot project in Hong Kong. The pilot began in November 2007 and was to end in April 2008.
As a major business hub and one of the busiest container ports in the world, Hong Kong fully recognizes the importance of enhancing the security of the global maritime trading system through international cooperation.
Hong Kong’s port already contributes to a safe international maritime trade environment. The territory’s continued participation in SFI will provide added assurances, thereby further enhancing the competitiveness of the port of Hong Kong.
A government spokesman explained that “the present pilot has not affected port efficiency so far. A one-year extension will allow a fuller testing of the project, which has been running for only a short while, such that its effectiveness and impact on the efficient running of the port may be ascertained.
“The arrangements will remain the same during the extension. Containers leaving Hong Kong for the U.S. delivered through the in-gate of a designated terminal in Kwai Chung will be scanned on a voluntary basis. U.S.-bound containers which have undergone the scanning process are expected to be less likely to be subject to security inspection on their arrival at U.S. ports,” the spokesman continued.
The SFI is being or will be implemented in six other ports in Pakistan, Honduras, the United Kingdom, Oman, Singapore and Korea.
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