Secretary for Transport & Logistics Lam Sai-hung

Europe, with its centuries-old maritime legacy, remains a shipping hub despite the recent shift in the global economic focus towards the East. In the past few days, I led a delegation from the Hong Kong Maritime & Port Board to visit Germany and Greece. One of the highlights of our trip was attending the Shipbuilding, Machinery and Marine Technology (SMM) trade fair 2024 in Hamburg, one of the world’s leading trade fairs and conferences for the maritime industry, where we aimed to share the good stories of Hong Kong's maritime industry with Europe and the world through our participation in the SMM and our meetings with the maritime-related companies, organisations and the media in Europe.

Demonstrating Hong Kong's comprehensive maritime strength

Hamburg Port is an important maritime gateway for Germany and one of the largest ports in Europe. The SMM we attended is a trade fair with over 2,000 shipping-related exhibitors from more than 120 countries, attracting around 40,000 visitors around the globe.

We understand that the international community has been observing our city over the past few years. Some commentaries even suggest that Hong Kong's status as an international maritime centre is fading into the background. One of the key purposes of our delegation's visit was to clarify and affirm that Hong Kong's comprehensive maritime strength remains among the best in the world.

At the SMM 2024, I spoke on two different occasions about the opportunities and challenges facing Hong Kong as an international maritime centre, as well as on the energy transition in the global transport and logistics industry.

The unique constitutional advantages under the "one country, two systems" framework, low tax rates and a simple tax system, an independent judiciary, being the only bilingual common law jurisdiction in China, and a strong talent pool, all contribute to Hong Kong's exceptional business environment. More importantly, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government not only plays a vital role as a facilitator, but also serve as a super connector and super value-adder between mainland China and international markets in the maritime sector.

We have a free port with high customs clearance efficiency and strong international connectivity. With our world-class soft and hardware facilities, our comprehensive maritime strength ranks among the best globally, Hong Kong remained firmly in the fourth position in the recently released 2024 Xinhua-Baltic: International Shipping Centre Development Index Report.

Working together with the Team Hong Kong to promote the development of Hong Kong's maritime industry

Promoting Hong Kong's strengths to the world by myself would be somewhat bland. Members of the delegation from the Hong Kong maritime sector also shared their firsthand experiences during the trip, articulating the real situation in Hong Kong to friends from around the globe.

Our delegation consists of members from various professions within the maritime industry, with diverse backgrounds and even different nationalities. Some members, during their sharing at the SMM, elaborated on why they have chosen to do business in Hong Kong for decades, highlighting that one of Hong Kong’s unique advantages is that this is a place where the East truly meets the West. As I listened to their insights, I sensed their confidence and enthusiasm for Hong Kong's maritime industry. The Hong Kong SAR government has been supporting the development of the maritime sector in full swing. While I believe the journey ahead will experience its ebb and flow, the future of Hong Kong's maritime industry is certainly filled with opportunities.

Although I was in Europe the past few days, I have been closely following the performance of Team Hong Kong at the Paralympics in Paris. Every athlete competing in the Paralympics is a testament to breaking through personal limits. The stories of resilience from the 23 representatives of Team Hong Kong, regardless of whether they won awards, are truly inspiring.

Similarly, we understand that the maritime industry faces numerous challenges, but seeking opportunities for a turnaround amid these challenges embodies the true indomitable spirit of Hong Kong. The Action Plan on Maritime & Port Development Strategy we promulgated last year is precisely aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of our port, making us stronger and more resilient. During my visit, I was very pleased to see that “Team Hong Kong” from our maritime sector, is determined to promote the development of Hong Kong's maritime industry. This reinforces my belief that collaboration will help our maritime industry thrive further in the future.

Secretary for Transport & Logistics Lam Sai-hung wrote this article and posted it on his blog on September 7.