The Board has recently completed two studies on bulk cargo facilities and Hong Kong' potential as a replenishment port.

The Study on Bulk Cargo Facilities is to find out the potential of Hong Kong to expand its role as a hub port for cargoes handled in bulk form. It focuses on the prospects for Hong Kong to serve as a transshipment or trading centre for Guangdong cargoes.

Results of the study revealed that Hong Kong has an active bulk handling sector that is primarily geared towards servicing imports and domestic demand and which is built around as set of dedicated, single-user, terminals.

It also found that volumes of exports are insufficient to justify new

As operators of the mid-stream trade have expressed interest in having access to a terminal to better support the handling of steel products, the study found that if such a facility is available on a common user basis, it might also be used for handling other semi-bulk products.

It also pointed out that semi-bulk terminals would better suit Hong Kong economy, which specialises in light industries and construction materials rather than heavy bulks.

Meanwhile, the Study on the Potential of Hong Kong as Replenishment Port revealed that ship replenishment is still an important business although visits solely for ship replenishment purposes has declined by 34 per cent in the five years from 1993-98. It estimated that every one per cent increase in the proportion of vessels

The study concluded that there is market demand for expanded bunkering and ship replenishment services if charges can be reduced.

It also suggested that bunker prices would be more competitive with the provision of an independent oil storage depot for the importation of bunkers.

Findings of both studies will be included as input for the Port Development Strategy Review which is due to complete by mid-2001.

The Board is undertaking an exercise to update the Port Development Strategy Review (PDSR) in the light of the findings of the new Port Cargo Forecasts (PCF).

The objective of the exercise is to provide an updated port facilities provision planning framework so that the Government can make timely reservation of land and water sites for the future development of port facilities to enhance the value-added services.

The review will translate PCF findings into demand for cargo handling facilities. It will also review the planned/existing supply of port facilities, including container terminal, river trade terminal, mid-stream sites, public cargo working areas, buoys and anchorages, ship repair yards and typhoon shelters and identify potential new sites for such facilities.

In addition to the PCF, the review will

Container terminals are the most important mode of port operation in Hong Kong as cargo handled through container terminals accounts for over 64 per cent of the overall port throughput. The key issue for the review is to identify suitable sites for future container terminal developments.

The PDSR will also look at the demand and supply of other modes of port operation, including mid-stream, public cargo working areas, river trade terminal, and buoys and anchorages.

It is expected that the review will be completed by mid-2001. Based on the findings of the review, a Port Facilities Development Strategy will be formulated for the years ahead after 2004 when CT9 becomes fully operational.