>Organization, Functions and Services Home > About us > Organization, Functions and Services The Port and Harbour Hong Kong is strategically located, both in relation to China and the neighbouring Asian countries. It lies at the mouth of the Pearl River Delta and is at the centre of the Asia-Pacific Rim, a region where economy is growing at a phenomenal pace. Being the junction of two different forms of maritime transport -- the large ocean-going vessels from the Pacific Ocean and the smaller, coastal and river trade craft from the Pearl River -- and the only modern, fully developed deep water harbour between Singapore and Shanghai, Hong Kong is the focal point of all maritime trading activities in Southern China. In 2005, Hong Kong handled a 230 million tonnes of cargo through its port and 22.6 million TEUs, making it one of the busiest container port in the world. As for 1st half of 2006, the container throughput had increased by about 5.2% to 11.3 million TEUs. Hong Kong is, and always has been, a free port. The trade policy of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region seeks a free, open and multilateral trading system. Ship owning and ship management is a major activity within Hong Kong and an independent shipping registry is in operation. As at end of 2005, about 29.8 million gross registered tons of shipping on the Hong Kong Shipping Register. Port facilities in Hong Kong include about 7,690 metres of quays at Kwai Chung and Stonecutters container terminals; about 7,040 metres of quays at public cargo working areas; and 31 mooring buoys for ocean-going vessels. There are also three public passenger ferry terminals processing more than 20.6 million passenger trips a year to and from Mainland China and Macau. About 39,140 calls by sea-going vessels were recorded in 2005. During 1st half of 2006, the number had increased by 1.3% to 19,220. On an average day there are around 110 ocean-going ships working in the port; nearly 630 ocean-going and river trade craft enter or leave the port. Ship turnaround performance is among the very best in Asia and port charges are among the lowest in the world. Container ships at terminal berths are routinely turned round in 10 hours or less, while conventional vessels working cargo at buoys are in port for only 1.2 days on average. Hong Kong does not have a port authority and the Marine Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the port.
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