Hong Kong reviews river trade fees as mainland ports draw cargo away

· Logistics · Hong Kong · China

Hong Kong is reviewing the permit fees charged to river trade vessels as it seeks to keep its port competitive against terminals in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, which are drawing cargo away. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Chan Mei-po announced the review in a written reply to the Legislative Council. The review focuses specifically on river trade, the feeder traffic that connects the port to nearby mainland waterways. The immediate effect is that the fees may change, with the government framing the move as a way to defend the port's competitiveness against mainland competition.

Why it matters：Fee policy for feeder traffic is one lever a port can use to defend volumes against nearby rivals, so the review signals how Hong Kong intends to compete as mainland terminals capture more cargo.

Key points

  • The review covers permit fees for river trade vessels.
  • It targets competition from Guangzhou and Shenzhen terminals.
  • Chan Mei-po announced it in a written LegCo reply.

Sources (original reporting)

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