Hong Kong remained the world's busiest container port in 2000. The port was also ranked one of the busiest in terms of vessel arrivals and departures as well as cargo and passenger throughput. It handled about 80 per cent by weight of Hong Kong's total cargo throughput.

In terms of container throughput, 18.1 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) were handled in 2000. About 430 000 vessels arrived in and departed from Hong Kong during the year. These vessels carried more than 174 million tonnes of cargo and around 17.1 million passengers. Most of these passengers commuted on the world's largest fleet of high-speed ferries, including jetfoils and jet catamarans, to and from Macau and ports in the vicinity. Details of the movements of vessels, passengers and cargoes are given in the Appendices.