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WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1989
IN THE SHORTER TERM. MR HALL NOTED THAT WAS BEING PLANNED FOR COMPLETION IN 1994.
CONTAINER
TERMINAL
HE SAID TERMINAL 6 WAS COMPLETED THIS YEAR AND TERMINAL 7 WAS EXPECTED TO BE READY BY 1991 AND THE TWO WOULD GIVE KWAI CHUNG A CAPACITY OF ABOUT FIVE MILLION TEU'S.
MR HALL SAID THAT IT WAS PARTICULARLY FITTING THAT THE WORLD CONTAINER CONGRESS SHOULD BE HELD IN HONG KONG.
"LAST YEAR FOUR MILLION TEUS WERE HANDLED HERE, THREE MILLION
AT THE KWAI CHUNG CONTAINER TERMINAL AND ONE MILLION ELSEWHERE.
"THIS MAKES HONG KONG THE WORLD'S NUMBER ONE BOX PORT ALTHOUGH IT IS BY NO MEANS THE WORLD'S BIGGEST PORT IN TERMS OF TONNAGE THROUGHPUT, HE SAID.
H
MR HALL POINTED OUT THAT LEAGUE TABLES WERE OF LITTLE INTEREST TO HONG KONG; INDEED SOME OTHER PORTS, SUCH AS THOSE IN EUROPE AND THE USA, WERE COMPLIMENTARY TO THE TERRITORY.
"WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR PORT IS APPROPRIATE TO THE ECONOMIC REQUIREMENTS OF HONG KONG.
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MR HALL SAID THAT THE CONTAINER INDUSTRY WAS MADE UP OF A VARIETY OF BUSINESSES SUCH AS CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION, LEASING, REPAIRS, REFRIGERATION, DANGEROUS GOODS CONTAINMENT, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND SOFTWARE, TRANSPORTING EQUIPMENT, ROAD AND RAIL SYSTEMS, INSURANCE, LIGHTER AND BARGE BUILDERS.
THE CONTAINER BUSINESS AS A WHOLE WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND FASTEST GROWING INDUSTRIES IN THE WORLD, HE ADDED.
TURNING TO THE LAND SIDE, MR HALL SAID THAT IT WAS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS CONTAINER SEA TRANSPORT AND BOTH NEEDED TO BE DEVELOPED IN TANDEM FOR MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING WHICH WAS NOT ALWAYS EASY FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
TOO
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"THE PACE OF DEVELOPMENT IS ALSO VERY FAST FAST. THE EXPANSION OF INTERMODAL TRANSCONTINENTAL CARGOES, OF TYPES PARTICULARLY IN THE USA, IS PRODUCING A BEWILDERING VARIETY AND SIZES OF CONTAINERS.
SOME
MIGHT SAY
THE
WAY
AND THE
LED MR HALL NOTED THE RAILWAYS HAD LARGELY INTERNATIONAL SHIPPERS AND OPERATORS HAD HAD TO FOLLOW SUIT OR LOSE OUT TO COMPETITORS.
"THIS IS A SOURCE OF CONCERN TO MANY, HE ADDED.
IN
THE MARINE DEPARTMENT TAKES UP A DISPLAY STAND AT THE CONGRES9 AND EXHIBITION WHICH IS BEING HELD IN HONG KONG FOR THE FIRST TIME ASIA UNTIL FRIDAY (MAY 51.
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