Policy address indicates its business as usual for maritime – but possibly propelled differently

Hong Kong chief executive John Lee delivered the longest policy address on record at the Legislative Council building yesterday (25 October). Even so, given his administration’s intent to address the broadest range of Hong Kong’s economic and social concerns, the maritime sector might be pleased that it was included.
 

In truth, mention of the industry tended to reiterate initiatives that have been in progress for some years. The exception was the ambition to develop a green maritime fuel bunkering centre.
 

The Government will study the feasibility of providing green methanol bunkering for both local and ocean-going vessels, and promulgate next year an action plan for the construction of bunkering facilities and development of supply chains. The administration also intends to take forward the preparatory work, including technical studies and installations, on providing LNG bunkering for ocean-going vessels.
 

Mr Lee promised that an action plan on maritime and port development strategy will be published this year. Tasked to deliver on this pledge, The Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board convened a special Task Force headed by Anglo-Eastern CEO, Bjorn Hojgaard in April this year.
 

Referring to the tax concessions, introduced incrementally to various sectors of the maritime cluster beginning with ship leasing firms in 2020, and going on to include marine insurers, ship managers, ship agents and shipbrokers, Mr Lee said: “Shipping commercial principals and overseas shipping companies have responded positively to the idea of establishing and expanding their businesses in Hong Kong.”
 

With reference to port development and the GBA, Mr Lee said his administration would:
 

“Prepare for the next Greater Bay International Maritime Conference so as to promote the comprehensive strength of the GBA port cluster, and continue to enhance logistics co-operation with other GBA cities, such as those in the west bank of the Pearl River, so as to facilitate cargo transhipment via Hong Kong using the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB). 
 

“We will also work with the GBA port cluster to jointly enhance teacher exchanges and provide multi-location training programmes to strengthen the training of maritime talents.”
 

The logistics industry also got its fair amount of attention yesterday. According to the Action Plan on Modern Logistics Development, the Government will formulate strategies and action measures to realise smart development, modernisation, green and sustainability, internationalisation and facilitation, with a view to promoting high-quality and development of the logistics industry.
 

Mr Lee elaborated: “In the first phase, we will develop modern logistics clusters in Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area (NDA), which will serve as a logistics gateway to the GBA. The Government will also promote the upgrading of the logistics industry by leveraging on the major trend in smart logistics, and develop an information platform to facilitate the interconnection of local logistics data and goods and information flow across the GBA.”

Source: Hong Kong Maritime Hub

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