The Port

The port handles about 90 per cent, by weight, of Hong Kong's trade. In
1997, it remained the world's busiest container port, handling some 14.5
million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units). It also remained one of the
busiest in terms of vessel arrivals and departures, as well as cargo and
passenger throughput.

About 233 200 sea-going and river-trade vessels arrived in Hong Kong
during the year. These vessels handled more than 169 million tonnes of
cargo and around 18 million passengers, most of whom were carried on
the world's largest fleet of high-speed ferries.

Container handling, vessel arrivals and departures, and cargo saw growth
rates in 1997 of 8 per cent, 6.4 per cent and 7.6 per cent, respectively,
compared with 1996. Details of international movements of vessels,
passengers and cargo are given at Appendix 43.

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