Despite setting another handling mark, the world's No1 container port is losing business to cheaper mainland rivals
Hong Kong set another record last year, handling almost 22 million teu (20-foot equivalent units), but its status as the main port for southern China continued to be threatened by facilities in neighbouring Shenzhen.
The world's No1 container port saw throughput grow 7.3 per cent year on year to 21.93 million teu last year, while the main deep-sea port, Kwai Chung, handled 13.4 million boxes, up a comparative 11.2 per cent.
Alan Lee Yiu-kwong, chairman of the Hong Kong Container Terminal Operators Association, warned, however, that the throughput growth was largely driven by international transshipments and cargo shipped to Hong Kong via barges, both of which were of low economic value.
International transshipments and cargo moved by barges grew 30 per cent and 20 per cent respectively last year.
'If you study the figures carefully, direct shipment - which is most important for Hong Kong's economy - only grew 0.5 per cent,' Mr Lee said.
He called for lower costs, especially trucking fees, to increase direct shipments.
