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HK port operators shower out-going Transport Secretary with high praise

TO thank outgoing Hong Kong Transport and Housing Secretary Anthony Cheung, the Hong Kong Container Terminal Operators Association (HKCTOA) held a luncheon in his honour this week where hope was expressed that his successor would be as dedicated to the port as he had been.

"We hope that the directions he set for developing our port will be taken up and excelled by his successor," said HKCTOA chairwoman Jessie Chung.

"We urge the government and the industry to work even more closely to maintain the competitiveness of the Hong Kong Port," she said.

One of the world's largest container vessels, the 20,170-TEU MOL Triumph called earlier this year. An even bigger ship will call early month, said the HKCTOA.

"The increasing deployment of mega-vessels by shipping lines shows, though presents both physical and operational challenges to the terminals, that Hong Kong Port's superior handling ability is once again recognised," said the HKCTOA statement.

The recent reshuffling of shipping alliances poses another challenge to the container terminal industry, she said. The larger alliances lead to higher volume peaks and troughs, which require terminals to react more efficiently on their combined complicated operational requests and evacuate large number of containers timely, said the association statement.

In safeguarding the competitiveness of Hong Kong Port, HKCTOA said it was pleased to see the support from the government which is crucial for the industry players to turn the challenges into opportunities.

The Transport and Housing Bureau put forward the "Proposals for Enhancing the Use of Port Back-up Land in Kwai Tsing" in mid-2015 to address the industry's needs, and initiated the "Study on the Strategic Development Plan for Hong Kong Port 2030".

"The maritime and port industries are vital pillars of Hong Kong's economy. In 2016, they contribute 1.3 per cent or HK$29 billion (US$3.7 billion) to Hong Kong's GDP and employ around 88,000 people, about 2.3 per cent of Hong Kong's total employment.