On The Record
New maritime body to promote HK
(March 04, 2016)
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Secretary for Transport & Housing Prof Anthony Cheung
Upon its inception in 1990, the Hong Kong Shipping Register had a mere 765 ships with a total gross tonnage of six million. According to a UN report in October 2015, Hong Kong accounted for 8.6% of the world's total tonnage. Registries with good track record usually host younger fleets and keep a tight rein to ensure compliance with international regulations.The Hong Kong Shipping Register currently ranks first in Asia and fourth in the world. It has the youngest fleet among the top 35 flags. Not only are we strong in numbers, Hong Kong-registered ships are also among the best performers in the world. The detention rate of ships flying the Hong Kong flag is only slightly above 1%, compared with the world average of 3.5%. We are delighted and indeed proud that the Hong Kong Flag is a reputable flag of choice and quality.
Maritime partners
The success of our shipping register owes a large part to our excellent partners in the maritime services sector. There are over 700 shipping-related companies operating in Hong Kong, providing a great variety of quality maritime services ranging from ship management, ship broking and chartering to maritime law and arbitration. We are also the leading international ship finance centre in Asia, with eight out of the world's top 10 bookrunners setting up offices here.
The Hong Kong Port is one of the busiest container ports in the world. It provides frequent and comprehensive liner shipping services with about 340 container liner services per week connecting to around 470 destinations worldwide.
Our shipping industry has indeed achieved a lot in the past decades and we should perhaps all give ourselves a pat on the back for that. However, challenges are always just around the corner, one of which is the intense competition we are facing from emerging ports in the Asia-Pacific region.
New maritime body
The Chief Executive announced in this year's Policy Address that the Government will merge the existing Maritime Industry Council and the Port Development Council to form a new Hong Kong Maritime & Port Board. The Board - to be chaired by me as Secretary for Transport & Housing - will be a high-level steering body to assist the Government in formulating strategies and policies to drive the growth of high value-added and professional maritime services in Hong Kong, foster talent development, and promote Hong Kong as an international maritime hub.
Three functional committees will be formed under the Board, respectively focusing on manpower development, promotion and external relations, and industry development. To strengthen industry participation, these committees will all be chaired by an industry person. The new Board will join hands with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Invest Hong Kong to expand our efforts in raising Hong Kong's profile in the international maritime landscape.
The Hong Kong Maritime & Port Board will be serviced by the Transport & Housing Bureau. To strengthen our support to the Board, the Board Secretariat will be led by a Deputy Secretary carrying concurrently the title of Commissioner of Maritime and Port Development.
The Hong Kong Maritime & Port Board will be officially established in April 2016. With its establishment as a platform for the Government to work with the industry to devise strategies and oversee their implementation, I am confident that Hong Kong's maritime and port development will enter a new era and continue to go from strength to strength.
Secretary for Transport & Housing Prof Anthony Cheung gave these remarks at the "Hong Kong Shipping Register Crossing 100 Million Gross Tonnage" cocktail reception.
