Full steam ahead in shipping push

After the Hong Kong shipping industry complained about insufficient government attention, the development of the sector has been included in the 12th Five-Year Plan of the central government.


The SAR government, meanwhile, is also trying its best to provide support, with the objective of making the territory the No1 shipping and logistics hub in the region.
In this regard, an important seminar is being organized for the latter part of the year, with the corresponding heavy promotion.
Secretary for Transport and Housing Eva Cheng Yu-wah, the official who heads this policy area, has assumed the role of ambassador for the trade, leading a recent delegation to Seoul to promote the strengths of our shipping industry.
Delegation members included officials from the Hong Kong Maritime Industry Council and the Hong Kong Port Development Council, as well as industry leaders and Miriam Lau Kin-yee, the lawmaker representing the sector.
The mission of the delegation was to drive home that Hong Kong is serious about developing its shipping and logistic industry.
South Korea was chosen as the destination, because the country has a sizable shipping and shipbuilding industry, and therefore is a potential client for Hong Kong's related services in maritime law, arbitration, insurance, financing and as a shipping agent.
The territory's services aren't cheap, but the standard is high, which makes it the top choice if quality services are needed.
Cheng had a packed itinerary, and made the most out of the trip, including meetings with officials from the Seoul maritime ministry and four top shipping companies.
She also delivered a keynote address to introduce the wide range of professional maritime services offered by Hong Kong.
Source: The Standard