The Review and Prospect of the Development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Port Cluster and Its River-Sea Intermodal Transport System

Abstract

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is one of the most developed regions in China and a world-class manufacturing base. China has built a world-class port cluster with Hong Kong Port, Shenzhen Port and Guangzhou Port as the core members and a river-sea intermodal transport system based on the Pearl River Delta high-grade waterway network which features delivery of containers, coal, and grain. Promoting the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, achieving carbon peaking by 2030, and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 are major strategies for China’s future development. To realize these goals, China will further promote the construction and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area port cluster, and will also pay more attention to environmental advantages such as high inland water transport capacity, low energy consumption and low pollution. Meanwhile, the government will make further reforms in planning, construction and institutional mechanism to accelerate the improvement of the river-sea intermodal transport system around the core ports in the Bay Area. This paper systematically reviews the layout, construction, and development of ports in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Pearl River Delta high-grade waterway network, and the river-sea intermodal transport system around seaports since the 1980s. Based on the “Outline of the Development Plan of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”, this paper foresees the future development trend of the port cluster and its river-sea intermodal transport system from the perspectives of inter-port relationship, high-grade waterway network and river-sea intermodal transport hub.