9 October, 2002 (Wednesday)

The inter-departmental group formed to prepare for the resumption of shipping to ports in the US West Coast held its first meeting today (October 9).

Convened by Port, Maritime and Logistics Development Unit (PMLDU) of the Economic Development and Labour Bureau, the Group comprised representatives from Security Bureau, Hong Kong Guangdong Cooperation Coordination Unit, Transport Department, Marine Department, Hong Kong Police Force, Customs & Excise Department and Lands Department. Its task is to make contingency plans to facilitate the expeditious clearing of the backlog of cargo and the resumption of shipment of goods to the US as soon as possible.

According to the industry, it will take at least two weeks before ships delayed in the West Coast to come back to Hong Kong with empty containers. Currently, very few containers with West Coast bound goods have been delayed and stored in the container terminals. A communication network has been set up with the industry to monitor developments and to alert all parties involved of possible surges and bottlenecks so that appropriate measures can be taken.

The Government is in close contact with the industry to assess the latest situation regarding the storage of boxes at the container terminals, the estimated volume of cargo delayed, the timing and phasing of the resumption of sailing to the West Coast, the availability and flow of empty boxes and the transportation of laden trucks back to Hong Kong.