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Fair cargo area management system must be maintained
The Marine Department would not forgo the fair and open principle in its management of public cargo working areas (PCWAs) which were built and managed by public funds, Assistant Director of Marine (Planning and Local Services), Mr Raymond Tang, said today (Saturday).
Commenting on the blockade staged by some cargo operators to show their objection to the department operating all the berths in the new cargo handling area in Area 16 in Tuen Mun as fast working berth, Mr Tang said the arrangement would maximum the usage of berths.
Under the old system, berths are occupied by barges not engaging in any cargo handling activities.
Some operators demand the department to replace the fast working berth arrangement with the first-come-first-served system for the new cargo working area which is open today.
"There are flaws with the old system as anyone can monopolise a berth as long as they are able to deploy sufficient barges to occupy the berth. By rotating their barges at the berth, they can circumvent the law to prevent monopolisation," Mr Tang said.
"Genuine cargo operators stand a better chance to use the new facility because hiring a fast working berth is limited to one day.
"We are aware that some genuine cargo operators may need more than a day to work their cargo and so we will continue to discuss with the operators to allow some flexibility to the one-day rule."
The fast working berth arrangement for the new PCWA is an interim measure as the Marine Department intends to bring in new management reform for the PCWAs to eliminate the undesirable practices associated with the old system, which is subject to abuse, and to improve the productivity at these facilities.
In essence, the new reform is to lease out the berths at the PCWAS by restricted tender under which only the existing operators are eligible to submit their bids.
To enable new comers to join the business, a very small percentage of berths will be leased out by open tender.
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