Challenges faced by Hong Kong as a maritime and logistics centre
Challenges faced by Hong Kong as a maritime and logistics centre
Challenges faced by Hong Kong as a maritime and logistics centre
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Moreover, <strong>as</strong> a result of the global financial crisis, there<br />
h<strong>as</strong> been a significant drop in the trading <strong>and</strong> freight<br />
activities worldwide. Our <strong>logistics</strong> sector, like their<br />
counterparts in other economies <strong>and</strong> other industries, are<br />
operating in a very difficult business environment.<br />
In the face of the challenges, <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong> should exp<strong>and</strong><br />
its cargo hinterl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> sharpen its competitive advantages<br />
in providing tailor-made <strong>logistics</strong> services <strong>and</strong> solutions to<br />
complicated t<strong>as</strong>ks. On the hardware, for example, the<br />
construction of the strategically important <strong>Hong</strong><br />
<strong>Kong</strong>-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge would soon commence. We shall also<br />
work closely with the Mainl<strong>and</strong> authority on the macro level<br />
to achieve better division of work, re<strong>as</strong>onable layout <strong>and</strong><br />
complementarities in port <strong>and</strong> airport development.<br />
In view of the uncertain global economic situation, the<br />
Government h<strong>as</strong> to take into account <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong>'s <strong>and</strong> the global<br />
economic trend <strong>and</strong> outlook in deciding on the way forward for<br />
the Lantau Logistics Park, including the scale <strong>and</strong> timing of<br />
the proposed development. This is to make sure that public<br />
resources are used in a cost-effective way in the development<br />
of the <strong>logistics</strong> sector. In parallel, we would continue to<br />
make available more l<strong>and</strong> for both long-term <strong>and</strong> short-term<br />
<strong>logistics</strong> use <strong>as</strong> far <strong>as</strong> possible. We shall also continue to<br />
work closely with the sector to promote e-<strong>logistics</strong> <strong>and</strong> to<br />
provide professional training courses to the industry to<br />
enhance the efficiency <strong>and</strong> competitiveness of our services.<br />
(c) The Study on <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong> Port Cargo Forec<strong>as</strong>ts 2005/2006,<br />
whichw<strong>as</strong>rele<strong>as</strong>edl<strong>as</strong>tyear,h<strong>as</strong>takenintoaccountthesupply<br />
of port facilities in South China. It projects that the total<br />
container throughput of HKP would continue to have modest <strong>and</strong><br />
steady growth. It also expects that <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong> will need the<br />
first new container berth <strong>by</strong> 2015 at the earliest. As advance<br />
works would have to be undertaken for developing a new<br />
container terminal <strong>and</strong> it would take time to comply with the<br />
statutory requirements, we have expedited the study on the
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