TNAG-0272-FCO40-308-Scheme-for-development-of-container-terminal-at-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 78

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Annex B

9.

Hong Kong is concerned, by the middle of 1972,

if terminal facilities at Kwai Chung are then

available. They have little doubt that once

container facilities are available almost all

Hong Kong trade with Britain and a large proportion

of trade with Europe can and will be carried by

container-ships. As an indication of the capital

investment involved in the changeover to containeri-

sation, Honourable Members may wish to note that

altogether, OCL expect to have US$1,000 million

invested in container-ships and container-terminal

facilities by the early 1970's. They have

indicated that they would be prepared to develop

terminal facilities themselves in Hong Kong on

the same basis as has been the case in a number

of ports elsewhere, i.e. the terminal area is

leased to them in an unformed state with the

exception of the quay wall and the forward 100 fest

of the area adjacent to the quay wall.

The details of the proposals made by the above

companies in the exploratory talks that have been held with

their representatives mentioned in paragraph 8 above are

summarised in the table at Annex B.

NOT ATTACHED

It is evident from the developments noted in

paragraphs 5 to 9 above that containerisation is fast becoming

a major method of transporting cargo, and that the major

shipping lines are fully committed to bringing into service

specialised container-ships on the main trade-routes between

the Far East and Europe, on the one hand, and between the Far

East and the United States, on the other. These developments

have substantially altered the Hong Kong situation since the

advice of Honourable Members was last sought on the provision

/of