ENG-2003 — Page 317

TRANSPORT

New Boundary Crossings Under Construction or Planning

To meet the anticipated growth in cross-boundary traffic, new road and rail passenger crossings have been planned in coordination with the Mainland authorities. The fourth land crossing, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor, is targeted for completion at the end of 2005. The second rail passenger crossing at Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang is planned to be completed together with the Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line by mid-2007. A joint study is being conducted with the Mainland authorities on the feasibility of an express rail link connecting Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Also, an Advance Work Co-ordination Group has been set up by the respective provincial and SAR governments to take forward preparatory work for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

Cross-boundary Ferries

Cross-boundary ferry services link Hong Kong with about 20 Mainland ports and Macau. In 2003, the passenger throughput by this mode of transport totalled 16.6 million.

The Port

Hong Kong set a new record in its container throughput in 2003 by handling 20.4 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUS) of containers, making it the world's busiest container port for the 11th time in the last 12 years.

About 436 100 vessels arrived in and departed from Hong Kong during the year. These vessels carried 207.6 million tonnes of cargo and about 17 million passengers. Most of these passengers commuted on the world's largest fleet of high-speed ferries, including jetfoils and jet catamarans, to and from Macau and other ports in southern China.

Being the junction of two different forms of maritime transport the large ocean- going vessels from the Pacific Ocean and the smaller, coastal and river trade craft from the Pearl River - Hong Kong is a modern, fully developed deep-water harbour and the focal point of all maritime trading activities in southern China.

On an average day there are around 100 ocean-going ships working in the port; nearly 500 river trade craft entering or leaving the port; and many river ferries and local craft working in or passing through the harbour. Ship turnaround performance is among the best in Asia: container ships at terminal berths are routinely turned round in 10 hours or less, while conventional vessels working cargo at buoys are in port for only 1.2 days on average.

Port Development

Container handling facilities are a key part of the infrastructure in the logistics sector, one of the four pillar industries of Hong Kong. Matching the supply of port facilities with demand will ensure and facilitate economic growth for the community. To meet the growing demand, Hong Kong is completing the construction of a new container terminal, Container Terminal 9 (CT9), on Tsing Yi Island opposite the eight terminals at Kwai Chung. Covering an area of 68 hectares, the CT9 has six berths and the first two came into operation in July and October. The whole terminal is expected to be completed by the end of 2004. The CT9 will help maintain Hong Kong's role as the premier port for southern China well into the 21st century.

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