[160413.EN.SEA] HIT: Strike-bound Terminals 86pc Normal As Dockers Threaten Trouble

STRIKE-BOUND Hong Kong International Terminals (HIT) has issued a statement saying "with more workers returning to their posts, terminal operations, our container handling capability is at 86 per cent of normal levels with peaks at over 90 per cent".

Said the company: "HIT has kept open communication with its shipping line customers throughout this period and shipping schedules are returning to established patterns."

But union leader Stanley Ho Wai-hong said if the contractors continue to show a "lack of sincerity" in talks, the strike action will escalate but would not elaborate.

Trade unionist legislator Lee Cheuk-yan has accused the operator of using threatening tactics to force the dockers to back to work.

Talks between striking dockers from the Kwai Chung container terminal and contractors will meet again this afternoon (April 16) to resume negotiations, reported RTHK.

Earlier HIT said its Kwai Tsing terminals were operating at 80 per cent capability, a figure agreed to by the customer group, the Hong Kong Shippers Council, though expressed as being 20 per cent below standard.

The council's telephone was constantly engaged yesterday and when it was being answered earlier in the day, no one was available to answer questions and no response was received to emailed questions.

Hong Kong's Overseas Container Line (OOCL) earlier announced the cancellation of 12 port calls at the terminal, and other carriers such as Evergreen have diverted ships to Shenzhen and other ports.

HIT is owned by Hutchison Port Holdings Trust (HPH) a global network of port and logistics operations, which is in turn owned by Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa, the world's leading port investor, developer and operator.

Source : HKSG.