ENG-2001 — Page 336

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TRANSPORT

every week there are about 3 800 scheduled passenger and all-cargo flights to some 130 destinations. With its dual runways, the airport has the capacity to accept the expected future increases in demands comfortably.

The HKSAR also has the most industrious container terminals in the world, handling double the industry standard, and the biggest private terminal operator. A comprehensive network of container line services connect the port of Hong Kong with over 500 destinations world-wide.

A number of key initiatives have been taken during the year to strengthen the air transport and port infrastructures. On the air transport side, the Government's Economic Services Bureau signed 47 and initialled six air services agreements to provide more traffic rights for airlines of Hong Kong and its aviation partners. The Airport Authority has also taken a series of measures to enhance the competitiveness of the Hong Kong International Airport. In February, the Airport Authority granted a sub-lease for the development of a logistics centre on the airport island, which upon its completion in 2003 will attract more value-adding services to use the airport. The Marine Cargo Terminal on the airport island commenced operation in March to facilitate the development of sea-air intermodal transport services between the airport and the Pearl River Delta. The airport cargo area has eight more aircraft stands, bringing the total number of stands in the area to 21. As regards port infrastructure, construction works for the new Container Terminal 9 (CT9), with four deep sea berths and two feeder berths, are under way. The berths will commence operation in phases and the whole terminal is expected to be completed by 2004.

'Logistics Hong Kong' Initiative

The Government is committed to providing a conducive environment and the necessary infrastructure to facilitate the development and promotion of Hong Kong as the preferred international and regional transportation and logistics hub and a base for integrating service providers for the global supply chain. The Hong Kong Port and Maritime Board commissioned a consultancy study to review measures required to strengthen Hong Kong's role as the preferred international and regional transportation and logistics hub. The study was completed in September.

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The Government has decided to take forward the recommendations of the under the 'Logistics Hong Kong' initiative. This was announced by the Chief Executive in his Policy Address in October. The priorities will be to strengthen connectivity between the different modes of transport links between Hong Kong and its cargo sources; and to facilitate collaboration among operators in the chain under the five pillars of 'Logistics Hong Kong': 'physical, electronic, human resources, marketing and SME logistics'.

The objectives of 'Logistics Hong Kong' are to attract the flow of cargoes through the port and the airport; to facilitate the development of infrastructure to enable Hong Kong to take advantage of opportunities in virtual logistics; and to assist Hong Kong companies and attract foreign investment in providing logistics services under the demand and supply chain that operates through or from the HKSAR.

To take forward the 'Logistics Hong Kong' initiative, the Steering Committee on Logistics Development (LOGSCOM) was established in November and the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council (LOGSCOUNCIL) was formed in December. The Steering Committee, headed by the Financial Secretary, will provide policy