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Electronic Terminal Receipt update

1. The three container terminal operators will cease issuing paper receipt (Terminal Receipt/Exchange Slip) on 1st May 2006. The other two container terminal operators ACT and CT3 will continue to issue Terminal Receipt after delivery of containers to these two terminals.
2. HIT, MTL, COSCO-HIT and their agent OnePort has promised that the OnePort e-TR service would be free of charge, until the terminal operators can come up with an alternative to the OnePort e-TR which is acceptable to the affected parties or there is consensus amongst the stakeholders on the pricing scheme for the service and agreed responsibility for the cost.
3. HIT, MTL and COSCO-HIT have also promised that there would be no charge, and discrimination in services provided to shippers and truckers who do not register with OnePort and use the OnePort e-TR service. They have guaranteed that there would be no delay in the process.
4. In response to truckers' demand for a tangible proof of delivery, a mechanical form of date/time stamp will be made available by HIT, MTL and COSCO-HIT, as record of attendance at the terminals. We understand that shipping lines have no intention to collect this stamped paper for exchange of bill of lading. Accordingly, this paper will only serve as a proof of delivery and has no practical and legal relevance to shipping lines' documentation procedure leading to issuance of bill of lading.
5. With exception of a few, most shipping lines will accept a Letter of Guarantee/Indemnity arrangement in case shippers do not use the OnePort e-TR service. The Council has circulated the survey results earlier and will continue to update the requirements of different shipping lines and pose the results on the Council website.
6. Economic Development & Labour Bureau has written a letter on 22 April 2006 to various trucking organizations clarifying the latest arrangements. CLICK HERE for a copy of the letter is attached for members' reference.