With limited land resources in Hong Kong, many pro-establishment groups have proposed to relocate the Kwai Tsing Container Terminal and release the land for other development purposes.
The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Chen Fan, said that he believed that the relocation of the Kwai Tsing container terminal would not help increase land supply in the short to medium term, and it would not be faster than the development of artificial islands in the northern metropolitan area and the central waters.
Chen Fan also mentioned that Singapore has planned to integrate and relocate the terminal since 2012, and it is expected to be completed in 2040.
He pointed out that even if the wharf was relocated, it would not be able to bring about a net increase in land. The government would, in response to the needs of future social and economic development, study the development of this land in due course.
Ye Liu expressed that he was very dissatisfied with Chen Fan's answer, thinking that it lacked new thinking, long-term planning and strategies.
(Photo by O Jiale)
Chen Fan: Logistics trade accounts for 20% of GDP, ports are extremely important
Ye Liu Shuyi of the New People's Democratic Party asked whether the authorities have considered relocating the terminal to other places, or even the mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area, so as to release part of the land used for the terminal for development purposes.
She pointed out that it has been reported that the container throughput of Kwai Tsing Container Terminal has been declining in recent years, from more than 17 million TEUs in 2010 to more than 14 million in 2020, a drop of more than 50% in the past 10 years.
Chen Fan said that the country has always supported Hong Kong's status as a shipping logistics center. In recent years, the plan has clearly supported Hong Kong's development of high-enhancement shipping services and integrated into the overall development of the country.
He pointed out that there is no doubt about the importance of ports to Hong Kong's economy. Trade and logistics are one of the four major economic pillars of Hong Kong, accounting for about one-fifth of the GDP and 16.8% of Hong Kong's employed population.
He pointed out that even with the rapid development of other ports in the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong has remained one of the top ten ports, with nearly 18 million TEUs in 2021, winning by quality.
He pointed out that the throughput of Kwai Tsing Container Terminal accounted for more than 80% of Hong Kong's throughput last year, and it is the main transshipment port in Asia.
Chen Fan said that he pointed out that the throughput of Kwai Tsing Container Terminal accounted for more than 80% of the throughput of Hong Kong last year, and it is the main transshipment port in Asia.
(File photo/Photo by Lu Yiming)
A series of considerations such as moving the pier and the waterway cannot be achieved in the short and medium term
Chen Fan emphasized that there are complete infrastructure facilities near the Kwai-Tsing Container Terminal, including a developed transportation network. The location selection not only facilitates the mutual cooperation of the surrounding supporting facilities, but also has a synergistic effect with the development of the surrounding logistics land.
He said that the government understands Ye Liu's comments and hopes to free up the land for other purposes in the short term, but finding a land to rebuild an international container terminal with a certain scale and complete supporting facilities must be taken into consideration, including land use planning, land use compatibility, Sea lanes, road connections and sustainable development factors, etc.
He also cited Singapore's integrated terminal as an example, saying that they have been considering relocation since 2012, and it is also expected that it will not be completed until after 2040.
Chen Fan emphasized that the government is actively promoting land development, but considering the importance of container terminals to the economy, employment and people's livelihood, and the relocation of the terminal will take time, the completion of construction and the release of land cannot be completed in the short to medium term, not faster than large-scale land supply projects, and also There will be no net increase in land.
However, he pointed out that the government will study land development in due course in response to the needs of future social and economic development.
Ye Liupi lacks new thinking: it can be relocated in stages
Ye Liu was very dissatisfied with Chen Fan's answer, believing that it lacked new thinking, long-term planning and strategies.
She pointed out that Zhou Zijing, the former director of the development department, recently wrote an article mentioning that the wharf could be rebuilt in stages.
Chen Fan responded that the terminal has been operating around the clock, and they need to have a plan for seamless connection to minimize the impact on the operation of the port in Hong Kong. He understands that the entire port operation includes supporting facilities. He emphasized that if it is separated, it will affect the overall operation. Responsibility reflects operations.
The Federation of Trade Unions, Mak Meijuan, questioned that there is no longer any logistical land around the Kwai-Tsing Container Terminal. She stressed that to develop a high-value-added logistics industry, the site selection should be re-examined. She questioned that the traffic here is not well-connected, and a more suitable location is needed.
Chen Fan responded that the Kwai Tsing Container Terminal occupies 279 hectares of land, and there are 100 hectares of land under short-term leases nearby, which need to be deployed for the future development of Hong Kong.
Li Zijing asked the authorities if they could consider releasing 100 hectares of land around the wharf to build houses.
(Photo by Ou Jiale)
Development Bureau: Artificial islands and northern cities can provide land faster
Liao Zhenxin, deputy director of the Development Bureau, said that different issues such as compatibility must be considered when rezoning, and it is difficult to achieve success in the short term; on the contrary, if the current land supply project is continued, land can be provided faster, such as artificial islands in the central waters and parts of the northern metropolitan area. The land has entered the harvest period and is not out of reach.
Li Zijing of the New Democracy Party asked whether the authorities could consider releasing 100 hectares of land around the wharf to build houses, and mentioned the feasibility of moving the wharf to Cheung Chau South.
Chen Fan said that the different three major ports in the Greater Bay Area have formed different divisions of labor. Due to its high efficiency, strong connectivity and wide coverage, Hong Kong has become a transshipment center in the region.
Liao Zhenxin pointed out that as long as the terminal operates for one day, it is impossible to hand over the land for other development.
The proposal to relocate the wharf to Cheung Chau South has also been considered in the study of the artificial island in the central waters and will be reviewed in the future.
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