ENG-2010 — Page 327

Transport 273

forums with industry associations for logistics practitioners. It also sponsored small and medium logistics service providers in developing information technology applications to enhance the efficiency of their work.

With the support of the council, the Government continued to provide sites for port back-up and logistics uses, particularly in the vicinity of container terminals. In his 2010-11 Policy Address, the Chief Executive reiterated the Government's plan to facilitate the development of a logistics cluster in the Kwai Tsing area. Several permanent sites have been identified for the purpose and will be released by phases to promote the anchoring of professional third party logistics players and regional distribution services providers through appropriate lease terms. The first site of about 2.4 hectares in Tsing Yi was awarded through open tender in mid-December 2010.

Civil Aviation

Hong Kong is a major international and regional aviation centre. At year-end, there were more than 90 airlines providing about 6 000 weekly scheduled services. between Hong Kong and more than 150 cities worldwide. In addition, there were, on average, about 178 charter flights each week.

Air Traffic in 2010

The total number of passengers passing through Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) during the year was 49.77 million, a rise of 10.6 per cent over 2009. The airport handled 4.13 million tonnes of cargo, a rise of 23.3 per cent over 2009. The number of flights to and from Hong Kong was 306 533, a rise of 9.7 per cent over 2009.

Hong Kong's total imports, exports and re-exports carried by air accounted for 39.3 per cent, 36.8 per cent and 31.9 per cent respectively in value terms in 2010.

Home Market Expansion

As a multi-modal transport centre, the airport continues to expand its extensive land and sea connections to the Pearl River Delta region. Cross-boundary ferries provide speedy sea transport to and from eight ports, while coach and limousine services provide comfortable transport for passengers travelling to and from the region.

2010 saw an increase in daily ferry trips at the airport's SkyPier. In December, there were over 110 (up from 80 in 2009) daily ferry trips between SkyPier and Nansha, Shenzhen's Shekou and Fuyong, Dongguan's Humen, Zhongshan, Zhuhai's Jiuzhou and Macao's Maritime Ferry Terminal and Taipa.

Ten new licensees providing cross-boundary coach and limousine services started operating at the airport in July, while new shuttle services to Huanggang and Shenzhen Bay Port were also introduced. With 460 daily scheduled coach trips provided at the airport, passengers enjoy convenient land transport services between the airport and 115 destinations not only in Guangdong, but also in Guangxi and Fujian provinces.