A shipping industry delegation, led by the Economic Development & Labour Bureau, set off  today for a four-day visit to Tianjin and Qingdao to promote Hong Kong's shipping and maritime services and explore  business co-operation prospects.

During the visit, Permanent Secretary for Economic Development Eva Cheng will meet officials of the two municipal governments, including communication and port administration departments, as well as shipowners associations, classification societies, and representatives of the maritime, port and logistics industries.

The visit aims to strengthen co-operation between the maritime communities in Hong Kong and the two cities, and update them on the latest developments of shipping and maritime services in Hong Kong.

Seminars at Tianjin and Qingdao will promote Hong Kong's quality maritime services to the Mainland audience. Topics include maritime law and legal services, ship finance, ship broking, marine insurance services, taxation and the shipping register.

The delegation will return on November 15.