Hongkong Post to strengthen e-commerce services

To adapt to the changing landscape, Hongkong Post said it is transforming from a traditional postal service provider to a logistics service provider, strengthening its e-commerce services - with the increased revenue offsetting the expenses of traditional mail services.

The move came as the postal service said it is seeing a decline in traditional mail volumes and a significant 86 percent increase in local e-commerce mail volumes over the past five years to reach 2.6 million mail items last year. It also recorded a loss of HK$380 million in the 23/24 fiscal year due to its loss-making traditional mail services.

Kenneth Wu Pak-kin, Senior Director of Business Development of the Hongkong Post, said it is the SAR government‘s responsibility to provide traditional postal services. Therefore, expanding e-commerce services is seen as a means to boost income and supplement related expenditures, he said.

He said Hongkong Post this year plans to further expand its cross-border operations, focusing on specialized services in markets such as ASEAN and the Middle East, including delivery services for products such as lithium batteries.

Wu explained that given the significant production of lithium battery products in the Greater Bay Area and the high volume of international flights at local airports with stringent security checks, utilizing these advantages is crucial for efficient air transport.

Meanwhile, Chan Yiu-fai, a postal officer who has been with Hongkong Post for over 30 years, was awarded a commendation certificate by the Civil Service Bureau for his outstanding performance.

Receiving the award, he highlighted the importance of being familiar with the community to facilitate deliveries, aiming to convey a personal touch in their work. Chan also noted that efforts are made to ensure even poorly addressed postcards are delivered to the recipients successfully.