The rapid development of the deepwater Yantian port, just three kilometres from the Hong Kong border, has huge implications for the territory's port.
Although Yantian is farther than Shekou from manufacturing bases and does not as yet have its good road links, it is forging ahead.
While some analysts say Yantian could pose a threat to the territory's container throughput in the foreseeable future, port development board secretary Tony Clark disagrees.
'By the time it [Yantian] is operating at anything near capacity, the demand on Hong Kong will be so great that it will be a welcome additional port of call in the area.
'We see Yantian as complementary to, rather than in competition with, Hong Kong,' Mr Clark said.
'Indeed, we in Hong Kong will continue to support Yantian - we are already planning an additional radar-based VTS station to expand coverage of the area.' Kenneth Tse Kam-tim, general manager of Yantian International Container Terminals, said: 'I don't think Yantian is taking too much [cargo] away from Hong Kong, just absorbing some of the growth.' Mr Clark said Yantian's deep-water approaches and anchorages, and a plentiful supply of waterfront and back-up land for future development were attractive.
