China's Deputy Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Zhang Xiaoqiang says Hong Kong should concentrate developing its high-end logistics and drop plans to expand container facilities and leave such projects to cities in Guangdong.

The China Knowledge agency reported that Mr Zhang explained that there was a mounting sentiment among central government officials "that Hong Kong should re-evaluate and re-plan its direction towards attaining shipping hub status".



Hong Kong has already been overtaken by Singapore as the world's busiest port in 2005. The SAR has also recently been surpassed by Shanghai in April, and it's reported that Shenzhen will most likely take over from Hong Kong next year.



Mr Zhang said in the report that there was no need to transfer all export products made in Guangdong via Hong Kong port in order to retain Hong Kong's status as an international shipping centre.



He said splitting up cargo throughput to Guangdong would be a "win-win situation" to both parties because not only has the province's economic growth exceeded that of Hong Kong, but its trade volume had also surged.



However, the senior official suggested that the overall management of the new terminals should be granted to Hong Kong-led consortiums so that "Hong Kong can also enjoy the benefit to ship the goods from Guangzhou and Shenzhen directly".



The report said that there had been opposition to the suggestions quoting Alex Fong Chi-wai, a former secretary of the defunct Hong Kong port and maritime board, saying "port planning largely followed market demand and should not be a conscious decision by the Hong Kong or mainland authorities".