Ye Liu points out that the container terminal is "suffering" and advocating building a house. Carrie Lam: The problem is sensitive but has to be resolved sooner

Political situation

Written by: Lin Jian

2021-04-28 12:55

Last update date: 2021-04-28 12:58

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor attended the question session of the Legislative Council today (28th). In her question, the New Democrat Party Chairman Ip Lau Shu-yee pointed out that the current supply of container terminals in Hong Kong exceeds demand, and the competitiveness is not as good as that of mainland ports. She described it as "living and dying." Will it consider reducing container terminals Space for building houses.

Lam Cheng responded that this issue is very sensitive and could easily cause a backlash. However, he agreed that it should be dealt with sooner or later. Because the Greater Bay Area plan still supports Hong Kong as a shipping center, it would not be a good thing for Hong Kong if the freight industry continues to weaken.

Quoting industry opinions as "prolonged"

Ye Liu Shuyi said that Lin Zheng went to Hainan to participate in the Boao Forum for Asia earlier, and met with Vice Premier Han Zheng, and was encouraged by the other party to develop the Greater Bay Area in an innovative way.

She asked whether the Chief Executive also has innovative and strategic thinking to deal with the Kwai Chung Container Terminal.

Ye Liu pointed out that the current supply of the Kwai Chung Container Terminal exceeds demand. Together with the entire Greater Bay Area, the throughput has reached 65 million TEUs. Now that many industrial production has moved away, many containers are not needed; Hong Kong's container terminals are more expensive than other places. Many mainland cities in the Mainland have subsidized ports. Hong Kong's container terminals are not competitive enough. Some people in the industry told her that the current situation is "living."

She asked whether Lam Cheng would consider integrating with the Greater Bay Area and other places to reduce the space of local container terminals for building houses: "There are more than 300 hectares of beautiful land near the sea, which can solve our problems quickly. Housing problems.”

Ye Liu Shuyi, chairman of the New Democratic Party.

(Photo by Lu Yiming)

Lam Cheng: If you say that there are plans now, it may cause a lot of backlash

Lam Cheng responded that this issue is very strategic, but it is also a sensitive issue. If it is said that "the future of the container terminal is already being planned", it may cause a lot of backlash, and it needs to be said carefully.

Lam Zheng pointed out that the planning outline of the Greater Bay Area mentioned that Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau should study the rationalization and integration of airports and ports.

She agreed that the competitiveness of Hong Kong ports is hard to compete with other ports in the Mainland, but shipping is still an important economic pillar of Hong Kong.

Regarding the issue of container terminal land for building houses, Lam Cheng pointed out that although there is no relevant plan for the time being: "But I believe it will be dealt with sooner or later. It is not a good thing if this industry has been weakened all the time; secondly, land is the most important thing in Hong Kong. Valuable resources are also the most lacking in us."

The Land Team’s report did not include priority recommendations. The government said at the time that it “prioritizes other options”

In the "Land Debate" in 2018, 18 options included two options: "Replace Kwai Tsing Container Terminal" and "Development of Kwai Tsing Container Terminal Superstructure".

On a practical level, the development of the Kwai Tsing Container Terminal site involves complicated technical issues, resettlement issues during the relocation period, potential ownership and conflicts of interest and other factors (the container terminal is mainly held by the developer, such as changing the land use, or involving sensitive The issue of land premium).

In the final report of the group, these two options were not listed as priority recommendations, saying that it would not help much to solve the short- to medium- to long-term land shortage. However, in the long run, the government can respond to Hong Kong, the Mainland (especially the Greater Bay Area) and even The latest developments in the logistics, shipping and port industries in the neighbouring areas, Hong Kong’s port demand and overall land supply and demand situation, explore whether it is worthwhile to further study the option of reproducing the terminal.

The government is aware of the relevant opinions and stated that "because the relocation of such a large infrastructure is a major project involving multiple impacts and interface issues, the government will give priority to other land supply options."

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