The new Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board tasked to strengthen maritime and port development initiatives will be officially established in April 2016, according to Secretary for Transport and Housing Anthony Cheung Bing-leung.
The board—which merges the existing Maritime Industry Council and the Port Development Council—will be a high-level steering body that will help formulate strategies and policies to drive the growth of 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 bolster industry participation, these committees will all be chaired by an industry person, said Cheung, who has been named chairman of the board.
The agency will join hands with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Invest Hong Kong to intensify efforts in raising Hong Kong’s profile in the international maritime landscape, he added.
Meanwhile, Cheung also said the territory is celebrating the milestone of the Hong Kong Shipping Register crossing 100 million gross tonnage.
He said the register currently ranks first in Asia and fourth in the world. According to a UN report in October 2015, Hong Kong accounted for 8.6% of the world’s total tonnage. It also has the youngest fleet among the top 35 flags.
Upon inception in 1990, the register had only 765 ships with a total gross tonnage of 6 million.
Photo: Andrew Smith
