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Premier Zhu Rongji went on a harbour cruise this morning (November 20) to see several major infrastructure projects and economic enterprises that form an important aspect of Hong Kong's logistic developments.
Accompanied by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, Mrs Betty Tung, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Donald Tsang, the Financial Secretary, Mr Antony Leung, Premier Zhu and his wife, Madam Lao An boarded the high speed craft, CKS Nan Hua, which cruised the Western Harbour.
The harbour cruise took them to the Kwai Chung Container Terminals, the impressive Tsing Ma Bridge and the site of Disneyland at Penny's Bay.
The Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip briefed Premier Zhu on the strategic advantage of Hong Kong's port facilities, which, in 2001, handled some 178 million tonnes of cargo, making the territory the world's busiest container port.
Premier Zhu was informed that Hong Kong has an excellent natural, deep and sheltered harbour at the mouth of the Pearl River, which is also strategically located on the Far East trade routes, as well as the entrance to the booming Guangdong Province.
In January to February this year, the port of Hong Kong handled some 26.4 million tonnes of cargo, including 2.6 million TEUs containers (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit is the standard measure of containers). During the period, more than 5,900 ocean-going vessels, some 17,100 cargo vessels and about 10,200 river passenger ferries called at Hong Kong.
In 2001, Hong Kong handled 17.8 million TEUs, of which 11.2 million TEUs were handled at the Kwai Chung Container Terminals. Operators at the Container Terminals are the most efficient in the world, with one operator setting a world productivity record of an average working rate of 336 moves per hour in February 2001, and another set a throughput record of 28,600 TEU per berth in a week last year.
Mr Ip briefed Premier Zhu that the Port Development Strategy Review has carried out and completed an update exercise to review the medium and long-term requirement of various port facilities. The review conclude that the future development of the port and maritime sector should form part of the strategy to develop and promote Hong Kong as the preferred international and regional trade, transportation and logistics hub and a base for integrating supply chain management.
Cruising around the impressive Tsing Ma Bridge, Premier Zhu was given a briefing on one of Hong Kong's most prestigious landmarks which was built at a cost of around $7.2 billion and opened to traffic in May 1997.
The 2,160-metre long Tsing Ma Bridge is the most outstanding element in the Lantau Link, which provides a direct access to the Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok. The bridge has the world's longest bridge span carrying both road and rail traffic.
During the visit to the construction site of Disneyland at Penny's Bay, Premier Zhu was informed that the Hong Kong Disneyland Phase One, occupying 126 hectares, is planned to open in 2005. This phase of the project will included a Disney theme park, two Disney theme resort hotels and shopping, dining and entertainment facilities.
The HKSAR Government and the Walt Disney Company have formed a joint venture, Hong Kong International Theme Parks Limited, to develop and operate the Hong Kong Disneyland. The Government will meet the costs of infrastructure, estimated to be $13.6 billion which includes 280-hectare reclamation works at Penny's Bay, road links, drainage and water supply system, a ferry pier, public transport interchange, water recreation centre, Government and community facilities.
Agreement has also been reached for the MTRC to construct the Penny's Bay Rail Link, which will run from a new station at Yam O on the existing MTR Tung Chung Line on Lantau Island.
End/Wednesday, November 20, 2002
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Photo 1: Premier Zhu Rongji takes harbour cruise to see logistic developments
