FIGURES released by the Hong Kong Port Development Council (PDC) Secretariat show that the port's container volume rose 14.2 per cent in February year on year to 1,649,000 TEU.

By contrast Singapore, rated as the world's No 1 container port, just ahead of Hong Kong in 2006, posted an estimated February volume of 2,117,700 TEU.

In January, Hong Kong's increase was 1.2 per cent rising to 1,902,000 TEU against Singapore's 2,170,500, up from 1,948,300 TEU year on year.

As it stands, Singapore's January and February rate stands at 4,289,200 TEU against Hong Kong's 3,551,000 TEU.