The Government would decide when to build container terminals 10 to 13 after a consultancy study on the demand for port facilities was completed by the end of the year, it emerged yesterday.
Deputy Secretary for Economic Services Richard Yuen Ming-fai said no decision had been taken. 'It depends on the demand for cargo handling facilities,' he added.
He expected the demand would continue to grow as predicted two years ago.
The earliest construction could start on terminals 10 and 11 was about 2002 after the completion of Container Terminal 9.
The preferred site was northeast Lantau, but if there was no urgency to build the terminals, another site in west Tuen Mun might be reviewed.
The Lantau site could utilise the airport infrastructure and port facilities at Kwai Chung.
It is also some distance from the Chinese white dolphin's habitat and near the Lamma Channel which requires little maintenance dredging.
