Hong Kong Transport and Logistics Bureau: Accelerate the intelligent upgrading of Kwai Tsing Container Terminals and drive Hong Kong's transition from a "large tonnage port" to a "value port"

On November 11, Liao Zhenxin, Acting Secretary for Transport and Logistics of the Hong Kong SAR Government, provided a written reply at a Legislative Council meeting on issues including the digitalization, intelligent upgrading, and green transformation of the shipping industry. Liao Zhenxin pointed out that in the opening year of the national "15th Five-Year Plan," the Hong Kong government published "Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan" in September this year, proactively aligning with the national development strategy and proposing to take "stabilizing container volume, increasing value, and strengthening coordination" as the main axis, with a shift from quantity-oriented to value-oriented development as the guiding direction, to accelerate Hong Kong's upgrading and transformation from a "large tonnage port" to a "value port," and to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's status as an international shipping center by promoting smart and green port development, advancing high-quality coordinated port development, and strengthening high-value-added maritime services. Regarding the research progress on the intelligent development roadmap for Kwai Tsing Container Terminals, the coverage rate of unmanned electric tractors and remotely operated cranes, and whether financial matching grants or tax concession incentives will be provided for operators to upgrade automated rail-mounted gantry cranes and smart yard management systems, Liao Zhenxin said that Kwai Tsing Container Terminals comprise 9 terminals and 24 berths, operated by 5 private operators. At present, terminal operators have introduced 6 unmanned electric internal transfer vehicles, and 67 cranes (about 16% of the total) use remote operation. The government is working with the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board and terminal operators to formulate an intelligent development roadmap for Kwai Tsing Container Terminals to accelerate the overall intelligent upgrading process, and will fully take into account Hong Kong's unique positioning as a free port and international transshipment hub, balancing factors such as operational efficiency and flexibility, operators' investment capacity, and technical feasibility. Regarding the number and proportion of local small and medium-sized logistics and shipping agency enterprises registered on the Port Community System, the number of applications received and approved under the "Future Smart Logistics Acceleration Plan," and how, while promoting data connectivity, the "Protection of Critical Infrastructure (Computer Systems) Ordinance" will be implemented to safeguard commercial data security and privacy, Liao Zhenxin said that since the Port Community System was officially launched in January this year, it has attracted more than 9,000 enterprises to register, of which about 6,000 are engaged in logistics and shipping agency business, accounting for more than 60%. The government launched the "Future Smart Logistics Acceleration Plan" in June this year. As of October, a total of 7 applications had been received, of which 3 had been approved, involving a total funding amount of HK$1.23 million. On data security, the Port Community System fully complies with the requirements of the Digital Policy Office's "Government Information Technology Security Policy and Guidelines," and corresponding IT security measures have been formulated with regular security risk assessments and audits to safeguard enterprises' commercial data security and privacy. On the study of regulations for unmanned vessels, with the International Maritime Organization publishing the first international non-mandatory International Code of Safety for Autonomous Ships in May this year, the government is actively making reference to the relevant rules and national standards/guidelines in studying improvements to Hong Kong's relevant maritime regulations and upgrading port regulatory supporting systems and facilities. At this stage, trial run applications will be accepted on a principle of proceeding from the easier to the more difficult, with approval based on factors such as the complexity of application scenarios, technological maturity, operating models, and risk levels for phased trial runs in suitable waters, ensuring navigational safety without affecting existing maritime traffic. Regarding the cumulative number of trips, cargo-carrying TEUs, average cargo loading rates, and average customs clearance and transshipment waiting times since the regular operation of the "Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong scheduled freight trains," the "Chengdu-Shenzhen-Hong Kong scheduled freight trains" combined with Shenzhen-Hong Kong terminal feeder barge services under sea-rail intermodal transport, and the "Chongqing-Qinzhou-Hong Kong sea-rail intermodal transport," Liao Zhenxin said that in 2025, the cargo-carrying container throughput between Hong Kong and Shenzhen Yantian and between Hong Kong and Guangxi was approximately 336,000 and 276,000 TEUs respectively, up 13% and 21% year-on-year respectively. The "Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong scheduled freight trains," "Chengdu-Shenzhen-Hong Kong scheduled freight trains," and "Chongqing-Qinzhou-Hong Kong" sea-rail intermodal services are operated by port operators, and the government does not maintain relevant cargo volume data. On Greater Bay Area port coordination, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has three world-class major portsHong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhoueach with different competitive advantages. In "Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan," the SAR Government proposes promoting high-quality coordinated development between Hong Kong and other ports in the Greater Bay Area, and will work through various cooperation platforms and coordination mechanisms with Guangdong Province and relevant units to jointly advance the implementation of relevant work and consolidate and enhance the overall strength and competitiveness of the Greater Bay Area port cluster.