Cargo throughput at Hong Kong port has been rising in the past decade, with gross tonnage of ships registered in the city now topping 35 million, an official said here on Monday.

Speaking at the Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Port State Control Committee 17th meeting in Hong Kong, Director of Marine Roger Tupper said Hong Kong will continue to take an active role in port state control and in activities of the Tokyo MOU.

"Since the set up of the Tokyo MOU, fruitful results on port state control have been achieved through the effective co-operation of our member authorities. Over the past 12 years the number of inspections of Tokyo MOU has more than doubled from 8, 834 to 21,686 vessels and the detention rate has dropped from 5.93 percent to 5.40 percent," he said.

During the past decade the global maritime industry has been operating under a very favorable business environment and large numbers of new ships have been built to meet this market in recent years. The situation is forecast to continue in the next few years based on yard orders.

"In Hong Kong, the cargo throughput of our port continues to increase and the gross tonnage of ships registered in Hong Kong has now topped 35 million. While having benefited from the growth of the industry, our work and duties towards the industry are also on the increase," Tupper said.

"On the ratification of new international conventions, our local legislation to give effect to International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships Annex VI is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Also we are vigorously carrying out all the necessary preparation work for the ratification of the Maritime Labor Convention in order that we would be ready for its entering into force in a few years' time," he added.