LCQ22: Maritime digitalisation and co-ordinated development of port cluster in Greater Bay Area
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Question:
Our country's Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan proposes to develop a world-class port cluster layout in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and promote the integrated development of the port cluster. Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address also explicitly promote the digitalisation, smart transition and green transformation of the maritime industry. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)(i) of the latest progress of the study on the roadmap for smart transition of the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals; (ii) the current actual coverage rates of autonomous electric vehicles and remotely-controlled cranes at the terminals; (iii) whether the authorities will provide financial subsidies on a matching basis or tax concession incentives for operators to upgrade automated rail-mounted gantry cranes and smart yard management systems; if not, the reasons for that;
(2)(i) of the number and proportion of local small and medium-sized logistics and shipping agency enterprises among the enterprises currently registered with the Port Community System; (ii) the respective numbers of applications received and approved for funding under the Future Innovative Logistics Acceleration Scheme; (iii) while promoting the interconnection of port logistics data, the specific measures in place to implement the requirements of the Protection of Critical Infrastructures (Computer Systems) Ordinance, so as to safeguard the commercial data security and privacy of shipping enterprises;
(3) of the progress of the Government's legal review in respect of the safety standards for the navigation of unmanned vessels in Hong Kong waters, the applicability of the international regulations for preventing collisions at sea, and the determination of legal liabilities of remote control operators, etc; when the authorities expect to launch unmanned vessel trial projects in designated waters or "water-to-water transhipment" channels, so as to promote the application of a smart and green logistics model;
(4) of the respective cumulative numbers of trips, cargo volumes in twenty-foot equivalent units, average cargo load factors and average times for customs clearance and transhipment waiting since the regular operation of the Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong and Chengdu-Shenzhen-Hong Kong scheduled rail-sea intermodal service in combination with the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Port Connect feeder service, as well as the Chongqing-Qinzhou-Hong Kong sea rail intermodal service; and
(5) of the current standing communication and collaboration mechanisms between the Government and other GBA cities in co-ordinating the division of labour among ports; the specific strategies to be adopted in future to achieve complementary advantages among the various ports in the GBA?
Reply:
President,
The National 15th Five-Year Plan indicates clear support to Hong Kong in consolidating and enhancing its status as an international maritime centre (IMC). In the opening year of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has formulated the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan) to proactively align with the national development strategy and propose the development strategy centered on stabilising container volume, increasing value, and strengthening synergy, with a shift of focus from volume-based to value-driven development, to accelerate the "volume to value" transformation of Hong Kong Port. It aims to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's status as an IMC by promoting the development of a smart and green port, advancing high-quality collaborative development among ports, and strengthening high-value-added maritime services.
In response to Member's question, having consulted the Security Bureau, a reply is as follows:
(1) The Kwai Tsing Container Terminals (KTCTs) comprise nine terminals with 24 berths, which are operated by five private port operators. Over the years, the KTCTs have been utilising computer systems for centralised resource allocation and operational management, connecting various hardware devices via wireless communication technology to form a highly efficient digital management infrastructure. In recent years, port operators have gradually upgraded the terminal's hardware facilities to enhance smart capabilities in line with their operational needs, including retrofitting more cranes for remote operation and introducing additional autonomous electric vehicles. Currently, port operators have introduced six autonomous electric vehicles, and 67 cranes (accounting for approximately 16 per cent of the total number of cranes at KTCTs) are now operated remotely.
To further enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong Port, the Government will focus on both quality and quantity, including continuously enhancing quality of our port through digitalisation, smart transition and green transformation. In this regard, the Government, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board and port operators, is formulating a roadmap for the smart transition of the KTCTs to accelerate the overall smart transition process of the terminals. In formulating the roadmap, the Government will take into account Hong Kong's unique position as a free port and international transshipment hub in full to ensure that the smart transition not only enhances terminal operational efficiency but also maintains operational flexibility. At the same time, the Government will consider factors such as the business development and operational needs of port operators, their investment capacity, and technical feasibility to ensure that the proposals put forward under the roadmap are practically feasible. The Government will take a proactive, pragmatic, and orderly approach to steer port operators in accelerating the smart transition of the terminals, thereby supporting the realisation of Hong Kong's vision for developing into a green and smart port.
(2)(i) The Port Community System (PCS) is a key digital infrastructure initiative led by the Government to drive the digital transformation of Hong Kong's maritime, port and logistics industries. Since its official rollout in January this year, over 9 000 enterprises, including terminal operators, shipping companies, logistics companies and traders, have registered with the system. Among them, about 6 000 enterprises are engaged in logistics and shipping agency services (accounting for more than 60 per cent of the total number of registered users).
(ii) To support the upgrading and transformation of the shipping and logistics industry and to make it easier for businesses to access logistics data platforms operated by the Government or public bodies-including the PCS-the Government launched in June this year the Future Innovative Logistics Acceleration Scheme (FILAS) where the first batch of three preapproved information technology onboarding solutions under the FILAS was announced on September 1 and funding applications from third-party logistics service providers for using the solutions have since been accepted. As of October this year, a total of seven applications were received under the FILAS and three of which have been approved, involving a total funding amount of HK$1.23 million.
(iii) The Protection of Critical Infrastructures (Computer Systems) Ordinance (Ordinance) requires operators of relevant critical infrastructure (the Operators) of various sectors, to effectively fulfill their statutory obligations under the Ordinance. The Ordinance ensures that the Operators establish dedicated management structures to implement necessary security protection measures, formulate computer-system security management plans, conduct regular computer-system security risk assessments and audits, develop emergency response plans and participate in drills to prevent cyberattacks and ensure a swift response to incidents, thereby enhancing the computer-system and data security of critical infrastructures.
On the other hand, the PCS, as a key digital infrastructure owned by the Government and operated by the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre, aims to promote the interconnectivity of maritime, port and logistics data. Its operations fully comply with the requirements of the Government IT Security Policy and Guidelines of the Digital Policy Office. The system has established corresponding information technology security measures for data and system security and conducts regular security risk assessments and audits to safeguard the security and privacy of the commercial data of enterprises within the system.
(3) Following the release of the first non-mandatory International Code of Safety for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS Code) by the International Maritime Organization in May 2026, the Government is actively reviewing Hong Kong's maritime legislations, and the need to upgrade port monitoring systems and supporting infrastructure, with reference to the MASS Code as well as relevant national standards or guidelines, to facilitate the application of autonomous vessels and ensure that their various modes of operation can operate safely and in compliance with the relevant regulatory requirements in Hong Kong waters. The Government is still studying the relevant rules and standards. At this stage, applications for trial operations will be accepted based on their complexity, with simpler ones to be handled first; and assessed for trial run by phase in suitable waters based on various factors, including the complexity of the application scenarios involved, the maturity of the technologies adopted, the operating mode and the risk level.
(4) The Government has been working closely with the logistics sector and port operators to further enhance the comprehensive "Rail-sea-land-river" Intermodal Transport System while stepping up promotional efforts in various inland provinces of Chinese Mainland, with a view to further expanding the catchment area for Hong Kong Port and attracting more transhipment cargos. Sea-rail intermodal transshipment aside, the Government is also working with the industry to explore ways of enhancing the competitiveness of other transshipment products, thereby consolidating Hong Kong's role as the regional transhipment hub and boosting the container throughput of Hong Kong Port. In 2025, laden container throughput between Hong Kong and Shenzhen Yantian, and between Hong Kong and Guangxi amounted to around 336 000 and 276 000 twenty-foot equivalent units respectively, increased by 13 per cent and 21 per cent respectively over a year earlier. The Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong scheduled freight train service, the Chengdu-Shenzhen-Hong Kong scheduled freight train service and the Chongqing-Qinzhou-Hong Kong sea-rail intermodal service are operated by port operators. The Government does not maintain relevant data on the relevant cargo volume involved.
(5) The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is home to three world-class major ports-Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou-each with its own competitive strengths. To develop the GBA into a world-class port cluster and enhance its overall international competitiveness, the three ports must maximise the synergies that yield mutual benefits for all parties.
In the Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan, the HKSAR Government sets out the objective of promoting high-quality collaborative development between Hong Kong and other ports within the GBA. The Government will work with Guangdong Province and relevant agencies through various co-operation platforms and co-ordination mechanisms to jointly advance and implement relevant initiatives. The Government will also maintain close contact with Guangdong Province and relevant bodies to continue fostering closer co-operation between Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland ports within the GBA, thereby consolidating and enhancing the comprehensive strength and competitiveness of the GBA port cluster and achieving high-quality collaborative development between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland city ports in the GBA.
Ends/Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:35
Issued at HKT 16:35
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