originally estimated that in the early stages of the
service container-ships could only expect to run 35%
full, but where, in fact, all journeys so far have had
100% capacity loadings. In addition, several American
companies interested in setting up subsidiaries in South
East Asia have indicated that the availability of full
container-handling facilities is a factor that they
take into account in deciding where they should make
their investment.
6.
There are many factors which have led to the
rapid rise in the popularity of containerisation as a mode
of transporting cargo, and apart from the advantages
accruing from cheaper labour costs and faster ship
turnround times referred to above, further advantages
to which reference should be made are reduced packing
charges (as cartons can be used in place of more expensive
cases), faster delivery times, convenience of being able
to carry goods both on land and sea in the same container,
virtual elimination of pilferage, and a substantial
reduction in documentation. In Hong Kong, a recent survey
on container shipments carried out by the Hong Kong General
Chamber of Commerce has shown that some 7% of those who
responded to the questionnaire (roughly one-fifth of the
total) exported their products by container at the present
time, while up to 17% had received an indication from
their customers that their products should be shipped in
containers now or in the future. In the light of experience
elsewhere, these proportions may be expected to increase
rapidly once suitable container terminal facilities are
available in Hong Kong to accommodate the container-ships
which are ear-marked for the trade routes to Europe and
North America. For example, Sea-Land's container service
/inaugurated
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