(12)
Port planning has recently commanded a role of major importance in
It is becoming increasingly apparent that an efficient and well
Hong Kong.
planned port
infrastructure.
is a wajor anu essential part of Hong Kong's
economic
Port Development Strategy Study
In early 1985, a Port Development Strategy Study was conducted by the
Marine Department to identify clearly the demands likely to be placed on the
port until the year 2001. The first phase of the Study took as its
start-point the trade forecasts up to the year 2001. These economic and trade
projections made some heroic assumptions about the level of activities which
were likely to reed to be conducted through the port. Major industrial
organisations in Hong Kong were consulted on the Government's initial
findings. They agreed the findings in the trade forecasts, which indicated
long term tonnage throughput growth rates of the order of 8% per annum. The
trade forecasts were categorised by commodities, by countries of origin and of
destination, and by likely transhipment trade. In tonnage terms, it was
forecast that the port would be handling about 180 million tons per annum by
2001, compared with just over 60 million tons in 1986 - a threefold increase.
The second phase of the exercise was to consider how the commodities
identified would be carried to and from Bong Kong. Would they be by large or
small ships; by river trade or ocean-towing vessels; by break-bulk or by
container etc. This phase of the exercise indicated the number and types of
vessels which were expected by the year 2001. From this was deduced the port
facilities which were required to support the estimated levels of activities.
In the third phase of the exercise, the need for additional facilities
by 2001 was assessed on the assumption that the trade forecasts were correct
and having regard to projects which were already committed (including
Container Terminals 6 and 7). To meet the projected demand, a requirement was
identified for the following additional facilities during the next 15 years