This is the 1693rd issue of "Hong Kong in a Day"
The Hong Kong Transportation Bureau criticized Radio Free Asia for fabricating facts
Radio Free Asia (rfa) reported on the 4th that Hong Kong is losing its status as an entrepot and quoted Tom, CEO of the American Institute for Supply Management Derry said the main reason was the fundamental change in Hong Kong's international political status. The Hong Kong Transport and Logistics Bureau issued a rebuttal today (5th), denouncing "Radio Free Asia's unreasonable comments on the rapid degradation of Hong Kong's international shipping center status as having no basis in fact and making things out of thin air" and will never accept such arbitrary criticism of fabricated facts. attack.
The Transportation Bureau stated that Hong Kong's status as an international shipping center is widely recognized internationally. For example, in the "2023 Xinhua·Baltic: International Shipping Center Development Index Report" which reflects the comprehensive strength of the global shipping center, Hong Kong ranks 4th in the world.
Data map
The Transport Bureau pointed out that Hong Kong is an important hub port in the world, with more than 300 international container liner flights every week, connecting nearly 500 destinations around the world; last year, the average time that ocean-going international container ships stayed at the Hong Kong port was 0.95 days. , far lower than the average of 1.85 days for the world's top 20 container ports, showing the efficient handling capabilities of Hong Kong ports. In addition, Hong Kong's ship registration is widely recognized internationally and ranks fourth in the world in terms of gross tonnage. Hong Kong-registered ships have a very low port state control detention rate in the world. The detention rate in 2023 is 0.81%, which is far lower than the global average (3.39%).
The Transport Bureau emphasized that the above demonstrates Hong Kong's outstanding performance in shipping, denounced Radio Free Asia's unreasonable comments as unfounded and unfounded, and reiterated that the media's assessment of Hong Kong's unique advantages is based on Hong Kong's work in safeguarding national security. It is unconvincing to raise doubts. Hong Kong's maritime port industry will continue to ride the waves and develop brilliantly in a stable business environment.
Hong Kong media previously pointed out that Radio Free Asia is operated with huge funding from the U.S. federal government and is headquartered in Washington, the heart of the United States. It specializes in providing pro-American and anti-communist propaganda in many Asian countries, lest the world be unstable! As one of the five news networks under the US International Media Agency, Radio Free Asia has an annual budget of up to US$63 million. When it was founded in the 1950s, it was a product of the Cold War to counter Soviet Russia. After being reestablished in 1996 and setting up an office in Hong Kong , has been engaged in chaos in Hong Kong, publishing a large number of reports that smear the mainland and the SAR government. The withdrawal from Hong Kong immediately after the promulgation of the National Security Regulations is obviously a sign of Radio Free Asia's guilty conscience for having been a thief for many years! What is shameless is that Radio Free Asia has not given up its role as an incitement machine for spreading rumors and causing trouble, and continues to publish news that discredits Hong Kong from overseas bases.
The Hong Kong Rugby Sevens begins today
Fok Kai-gang suggests connecting the Bay Area to promote sports tourism
The Hong Kong International Rugby Sevens begins today (5th) and will be held at the stadium for three consecutive days. The event attracts a large number of tourists to Hong Kong. The first game kicked off at 10:30 a.m. on the 5th, with Canada playing the Japanese women's rugby team. There were more spectators than at the same time last year, and the mood was very high.
Source: Hong Kong Commercial Daily
This year’s event is the last time it will be held at the Hong Kong Stadium. Tickets have been sold out earlier and have received strong support from international tourists, especially fans from the United Kingdom and Australia. The organizer stated that ticket sales to Hong Kong tourists accounted for 40% of the total ticket sales for this year's event. This weekend, up to 120,000 spectators will gather at the stadium to watch 30 teams from around the world competing for the honor.
Some local fans in Hong Kong said that they have attended the game for more than 10 years. This is the last time the event will be held at the stadium. From the next one, it is expected to be moved to the Kai Tak Sports Park to be completed next year. They will also attend the game to support it. Some tourists from Beijing said that rugby is a niche sport in the mainland, but the Hong Kong Seven Rugby Tournament is well-known internationally, so they went to watch the game with friends. A tourist from South Africa said that the Hong Kong Seven Rugby Tournament is internationally renowned and it has always been his wish to watch the game in Hong Kong.
Source: Sing Tao Daily
Hong Kong Legislative Council members Yiu Pak-liang, Fok Qigang and Zheng Yongshun held a press conference on the 5th to propose to the government to promote the development of sports tourism. Huo Qigang believes that sports tourism needs to be industrialized and that ideas and systems need to be changed.Hong Kong should "take the initiative" to connect with the Bay Area and further promote the sports tourism industry.
In preparation for the National Games, Guangdong Province has established a normalized liaison mechanism between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. Fok Qigang believes that the mechanism should be maintained after the National Games. In the long run, it is necessary to establish institutional norms so that the rules for holding major events and experience activities in the three places are consistent. Promote the sharing of hardware facilities, make good use of the large number of sports facilities and venues in Guangdong Province, enhance the ability to host large-scale events, and use Hong Kong's advantages to support the establishment of international sports organization headquarters in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. He suggested that to build a sports bay area, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao need to show their strengths and build a complete industrial chain around six core functions, including hosting events, training bases, sports medicine and rehabilitation treatment centers.
Over 800,000 people entered and exited through Shenzhen ports during the Tomb Sweeping Day
Members of the Legislative Council were concerned about the insufficient number of flights to Lok Ma Chau
During the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday, various ports in Shenzhen received a large number of inbound and outbound passengers from Hong Kong and Macao and outbound passengers from the mainland. The Hong Kong Immigration Department announced on the 5th that on the first day of the Qingming Festival holiday on April 4, 806,000 people entered and exited the Shenzhen port, which was the same as the average daily number of people entering and exiting Hong Kong during this year’s public holidays (March 29 to April 1). . The Hong Kong Immigration Department stated that on the 5th, the overall passenger flow at major land ports in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, including Futian Port, Luohu Port, and Shenzhen Bay Port, remained at a high level. In addition, the Shenzhen Immigration Inspection Station predicts that the Shenzhen-Hong Kong port will usher in a peak passenger flow during the three days of Qingming Festival, with the average daily entry and exit personnel reaching 820,000, and the peak passenger flow may exceed 870,000.
Picture source: Dot News
Passenger flow between Shenzhen and Hong Kong runs in both directions, and railway is the main means of transportation. The Railway Matters Subcommittee of the Hong Kong Legislative Council held a meeting on the 5th to discuss the latest progress in improving MTR facilities and passenger experience. Some members of the Legislative Council pointed out that it has recently become a craze for Hong Kong people to travel northward for consumption. However, the current number of East Rail Line trains to Lok Ma Chau Station is insufficient, which will cause the platform of Admiralty Station to be crowded with people waiting for trains. In response, the MTR Corporation said it would make timely adjustments depending on passenger volume.
Author丨Qiu Hui, Shenzhen Satellite TV Direct News Editor
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