COSCO Shipping Ports has launched an alliance for operating ports in Hong Kong with three other companies as a response to “growing regional competition” for services as well as growing market power held by the big container-line alliances. Container handling at Hong Kong ports fell 5.9% in the 12 months to Nov. 30 vs. a year earlier to 19.73 million TEUs, compared to a 3.4% rise at Chinese mainland ports. The potential for further shipping alliance integration and the outcome of the U.S.-China trade war cast further doubts on the prospects for the Hong Kong ports. The top...