According to figures released from Hong Kong January 20, it had achieved a total import/export turnover of over 16 million standard containers by its harbor transport last year, winning it world first ranking to take the place of Singapore.

Hong Kong had been for 6 consecutive years known as the world first and world busiest container harbor since 1991. But in 1998, a sharp drop was had been experienced by it in its import/export turnover as a result of the Asian financial crisis, hence Singapore's rise to the first placing in 1998. Hong Kong's imports and exports reached a total of 16.10 million containers last year, up 10% over 1998, thereby topping the list of known large harbors throughout the world.