Chapter 14 Port Governance in Hong Kong

Abstract

This chapter on the port of Hong Kong begins by describing its cargo throughput and infrastructure. It moves on to review the development and current state of the port governance structure and the economic and port policies that have been pursued by the government of Hong Kong in recent years. It is established that the port of Hong Kong and the wider economy are critically dependent on container flows to and from the Pearl River Delta across the border in the Chinese mainland. It is shown that Hong Kong's economic and port policies have largely been formulated as a response to the newly emergent geopolitical context that prevails in South China and the trade flows that move into and out of the area. This is also evident in a port governance structure that has recently been revamped. The nature of the recent changes to this structure and their motivation is explained and the emergent relationship between government (including the Marine Department as the port authority), terminal operators and the shipping industry described. A three-tier hierarchy is posited in terms of the roles taken by central government, the Marine Department as port authority and the two industry advisory councils that have been created. The new structure is criticised for distancing the port and shipping sectors from the wider logistics industry by limiting their involvement in fora that influence logistics policy in Hong Kong and the whole South China region. The chapter finishes by highlighting the importance and potential impact on the port of impending competition legislation and imminent port development planning.