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 2000, Hong Kong handled a total of 175 million tonnes of cargo through its port and 18.1 million TEUs, making it the busiest container port in the world for the eighth year in the last decade. As for 2001, provisional figures indicated that the total container throughput had dropped by about 1% to 17.9 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. There are now about 14 million gross registered tons of shipping on the Hong Kong Shipping Register.

Port facilities in Hong Kong include about 6,000 metres of quays at Kwai Chung and Stonecutters container terminals; about 7,750 metres of quays at public cargo working areas; and 58 mooring buoys for ocean-going vessels. There are also two public passenger ferry terminals processing more than 17.7 million passenger trips a year to and from Mainland China and Macau.

About 37,680 calls by sea-going vessels were recorded in 2000. During 2001, the number had decreased by 3% to 36,700 based on provisional figures. On an average day there are around 100 ocean-going ships working in the port; nearly 600 ocean-going and river trade craft enter or leave the port; and about 10,000 craft working and/or passing through the harbour.

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 1.8 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.