Two options to connect the proposed Port Rail Line (PRL) from Lo Wu to the Port Rail Terminal (PRT) in Kwai Chung container port have been identified in the Second Railway Development Study (RDS-2) after taking into consideration the freight strategy submitted by the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC).

The PRL is one of the six new railway projects recommended in the Railway Development Strategy 2000 formulated by the Government in May this year.

According to the findings of the RDS-2 undertaken by the Transport Bureau, the PRL could be linked up from Lo Wu to Kwai Chung by East Rail (ER) or West Rail (WR).

The East Rail option will take container freight from Lo Wu to Tai Wai via the existing East Rail and then to Kwai Chung via a new tunnel. The West Rail option will go from Lo Wu to Kam Sheung Road via the proposed Northern Link and then to Kwai Chung via West Rail Phase I.

Either of these route options may use single track to accommodate freight service only or double tracks to allow both passenger and freight services.

After taking the capital and land costs of the PRL, PRT and the associated works in Hong Kong, the Study found that in general, the ER option can reduce the costs as compared to the WR's as the latter requires more substantial land resumption. Moreover, the double-track option is cheaper than the freight-only option as the double-track option can optimize the rail facilities and landuse.

The Study also evaluated the economic and financial benefits as well as looked at the rail-borne freight forecast and the environmental implications of the PRL. It concluded that the PRL would tap the freight market in the deep hinterland and help maintain Hong Kong's port cargo growth under the increasing competition from other ports. Its investment will return substantial economic benefits to Hong Kong with an economic internal rate of returns greater than 10 per cent and it is potentially financially viable.

Moreover, according to the KCRC's

The PFDC is to consolidate and distribute freight, container and break-bulk, for shuttle trains and/or trucks to and from ports in Kwai Chung, Yantian, Shekou, and other parts of the Mainland.

The RDS-2 concluded that it is unlikely to proceed with the PRL/PRT without the PFDC as the Centre underpins the just-in-time delivery and pre-custom clearance concept of the PRL, and affects the trucking cost from the PRT to the port operators.

The implementation of the PRL project depends on further detailed studies including the growth of the cross-boundary rail-borne freight for Kwai Chung ports. The KCRC, which is the natural contender for this line, has been asked to investigate in more detail into the feasibility of the Line and how best to implement the project.

The Shipping Committee will pursue recommendations to make Hong Kong Shipping Register more competitive and consolidate Hong Kong as an international maritime centre.

The Committee at its latest meeting was briefed on developments of various maritime matters, including the growth of GRT registered in the Hong Kong Shipping Register and the ways proposed to strengthen its competitiveness; and the need to maintain a pool of local experienced seafarers for the development of Hong Kong shipping industry.

Hong Kong had achieved significant success in the Hong Kong Shipping Register following Government's introduction of a package of measures to enhance the Register's competitiveness and attractiveness since April 1999.

Since then, Hong Kong has registered an additional 101 ocean-going cargo ships totalling 2.6 million GRT, representing a 42 per

After discussion, the Committee agreed that the ship registration and annual tonnage fees were already very competitive. It also supported the Government to explore ways to encourage local youngsters to join the maritime industry.

In fact, the recommendations were proposed as a result of a customer survey conducted by the Marine Department with a view to making the Shipping Register more user-friendly, cost-effective and attractive.

On the human resource aspect, the Committee recognised the forecast future shortage of manpower for the shipping and port industry in Hong Kong.

It agreed that a high calibre manpower resource was an important asset of the shipping industry. Therefore, in order to ensure a continued supply of senior level people with seafaring skills and experience to run Hong Kong ships and to fill a wide range

At the meeting, the Committee also discussed other issues, including the negotiation on double taxation agreements with various countries, and the importance of marine insurance and maritime arbitration services to maintaining Hong Kong's status as an international shipping centre.

To help promote the shipping industry both locally and overseas, the Committee agreed that it was worthwhile to set up a "Maritime Hong Kong" to develop promotional ideas in this area.