Hong Kong to set up high-level advisory body to foster development of maritime industry

HONG KONG -- China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will establish a "Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board", a high-level advisory body to assist the HKSAR government in formulating policies and long-term development strategies, HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee said Wednesday.

The new body will be chaired by a non-official member, with other members largely from the maritime sector, said Lee while delivering his third policy address to the HKSAR Legislative Council.

It is expected to support the HKSAR government in policy implementation more effectively and promote the sustainable development of Hong Kong's maritime industry, Lee said.

Additional funding will be provided to enhance its research capabilities, strengthen its promotional work on the Chinese mainland and overseas, as well as step up manpower training, he said.

The new body is created by reconstituting the existing Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board, according to Lee.

Its establishment is among a raft of measures unveiled Wednesday to bolster Hong Kong's maritime sector.

Hong Kong will become a green maritime center, said Lee. An Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering will be promulgated by the end of this year, pledging efforts to promote port emissions reduction and encourage green maritime fuel usage.

To build a commodity trading ecosystem, Hong Kong will explore the introduction of tax concessions and support measures to attract enterprises on the Chinese mainland and overseas companies.

The HKSAR government will complete the installation of a port community system next year, Lee said. It will be equipped with functions such as shipment tracking, real-time transport information, electronic information and document retrieval, and port data analysis, enabling the flow and sharing of data among stakeholders in the maritime, port and logistics industries.

On expanding high value-added logistics services, Hong Kong will release four quality logistics sites for developing modern, high-end, multi-storey logistics facilities, he said.