CONFIDENTIAL
Methods of despatch
4.
Movements of imports to and exports from China is by barge. The Chinese use the container freight stations at the terminals for de-stuffing containers
carrying imports, and stuff containers in public cargo working areas. Movement within Hong Kong is by road.
China's future plans
5.
Little is known of China's plans. It would
obviously be more economical for the Chinese to use Hong Kong as a container port rather than build their own facilities in South China. There are some signs that the Chinese may be coming around to this point of view.
'It is known that the Whampoa authorities would like to
establish a feeder terminal to the south of Whampoa, utilising barges and small roll-on roll-off vessels. The Chinese Government is reported to have placed an order with Kawasaki of Japan for the construction of two ocean-going and five coastal roll-on roll-off vessels.
The Director of Marine has also received indications
that a container feeder service from Shanghai to Hong Kong is expected to commence in October of this year, with larger roll-on roll-off vessels being routed onwards
to Europe.
6.
If the Chinese do want to make use of Hong
Kong, then it is likely that they would prefer to have
a terminal for their own exclusive use rather than to
use the existing Kwai Chung Terminal. They have approached the Director of Marine for a site for such
a facility, indicating that they are not prepared to
share container handling facilities with the existing operators at Kwai Chung. Since the request has been made in general terms, the Director of Marine has asked for fuller information before processing the application
further.
CONFIDENTIAL
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2.
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