CE's speech in delivering "The Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address" to LegCo (7)
(C) International Shipping Centre
113. Hong Kong is one of the busiest ports in the world. Being a leading "catch-up port"⁹ renowned for its fast customs clearance and high efficiency, underpinned by a maritime service ecosystem with more than 1 200 companies, Hong Kong is ranked fourth among the world's international shipping centres. The Government will expand the cross-provincial freight transport network, build a commodity ecosystem, drive the port's green transformation and digitalisation, and better harness our advantages in high value-added maritime services.
Establish a Comprehensive "Rail-sea-land-river" Intermodal Transport System Connecting to the Inland Region
114. We are actively extending Hong Kong's cargo sources, promoting intermodal cargo transport from the Mainland's inland provinces and cities to international markets through Hong Kong via rail, sea, land and river. Currently, cargo originating from Chongqing and Chengdu can be sent by sea-rail intermodal service to Yantian Port in Shenzhen or Beibu Gulf in Guangxi, then transhipped to the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals by feeders or daily liner service. This fully leverages the complementary strengths of the ports concerned, achieving mutual benefits.
Build an International "Partner Port" Network
115. The Government will establish "partner port" relationships with Mainland regions of strategic collaboration significance, as well as B&R regions, and prepare for the development of a green shipping corridor.
Develop a Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering Centre
116. We will focus on the development of bunkering of fuels such as green methanol, green ammonia and hydrogen. Later this year, we will invite the industry to submit expressions of interest in the development of green maritime fuel storage facilities. We will also require all vessels providing methanol bunkering services in Hong Kong waters to install mass flow meters to improve bunkering efficiency within next year, and initiate a feasibility study on green ammonia and hydrogen bunkering.
117. The Government will facilitate the trading of more green maritime fuels in Hong Kong, and assist in the export of Mainland-produced green maritime fuel.
Develop a Digitalised Port System
118. The Port Community System, to be launched in January next year, will provide cargo tracking function and connect sea, land and air transport networks, bolstering trade and capital flows digitally.
Better Harness the Strengths of High Value-added Maritime Services
119. Vessels owned, managed or operated by Hong Kong shipowners account for nearly 10% of the deadweight tonnage of the world's merchant fleet. Ships registered in Hong Kong are governed and protected by local law. Their operation will drive the development of high value-added maritime services, including ship management, ship leasing, marine insurance, maritime law and arbitration.
120. To strengthen Hong Kong's leading position in high value-added maritime services, the Government will amend the Merchant Shipping (Registration) Ordinance next year to render the registration processes more flexible and digitalised. We will also step up promotion of tax concessions and enhance the marine insurance business. The Government and the Insurance Authority(IA) are engaging the industry in establishing a dedicated marine risk pool to enhance Hong Kong's underwriting capacity for both local and Mainland markets.
Propel Long-term Maritime Development Strategies
121. The Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board, established in July this year, assists the Government in formulating more outgoing and comprehensive overseas and Mainland promotional strategies, as well as policies for the overall development of the maritime industry, with key areas identified for research.
Support Modern Logistics Development
122. To consolidate Hong Kong's position as an international logistics hub, we will release the findings of the planning study on the development of modern logistics clusters in Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen NDA this year. We will invite expressions of interest from the industry next year and draw up tender conditions.
(D) International Aviation Hub
123. Connecting with more than 200 destinations worldwide, Hong Kong saw an increase of over 60% in the number of passenger and cargo flights over the past two years. We will continue to leverage the opportunities brought by the Three-Runway System at the HKIA and increase the number of long-haul and transit routes, reinforcing Hong Kong's top global ranking for cargo throughput and our advantages of being the GBA's transit hub.
Accelerate the Expansion of Aviation Network
124. Over the past two years, Hong Kong has expanded bilateral air services arrangements with more than 10 aviation partners, leading to an increase in flights to and from Australia and Turkey. We also reached a consensus with Chile last month, laying the foundation to establish a new air services agreement. We will encourage local and non-local airlines to operate more flights and work to forge more new air services agreements and expand traffic rights with South America, Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East as our priority target regions.
Improve the Greater Bay Area's Intermodal Network
125. Starting in October, we will expand exemptions from the Air Passenger Departure Tax to include passengers travelling to Hong Kong for transit by sea or land. The AAHK will also expand the city terminal network in the Mainland, and improve land transport connections under "Fly-Via-Zhuhai-Hong Kong", extending the service to more Mainland cities.
Take Forward the Expansion of Airport City Development
126. The construction of AsiaWorld-Expo Phase 2 has begun and is expected to be completed in 2028. The AAHK will invite expressions of interest in the development of a yacht bay and its ancillary facilities early next year. The facilities will be completed in phases, starting in 2028. The AAHK is also working on the creation of an ecosystem for the arts industry, the opening of a jet fresh market for fresh gourmet products and more.
Consolidate Hong Kong's Position as the World's Top Cargo Hub
127. The HKIA has been ranked the world's busiest cargo airport for the 14th time since 2010. The AAHK will continue to leverage the advantages of the Three-Runway System to increase cargo throughput. In parallel, it is moving ahead with the construction of a logistics park in Dongguan, to help boost the use of Hong Kong air cargo services for transporting goods to and from the Mainland.
(E) International Legal and Dispute Resolution Services Centre
128. Hong Kong maintains a robust legal system highly aligned with international standards, and is also the only place in the world implementing a bilingual common law system in both Chinese and English. We will step up the promotion of legal services in Hong Kong and deepen our mediation culture, reinforcing our positions as an international legal hub and the Capital of Mediation.
Commence Operation of the International Organization for Mediation's Headquarters
129. The International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) fulfils the mission of using mediation as one of the peaceful means to maintain international peace and security, as stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations. Headquartered in Hong Kong, it reflects the importance the Central Government attaches to Hong Kong and the confidence of the global community in the city's development. It will also strengthen Hong Kong's positioning as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services.
130. The Government fully supports the work of the IOMed, and will organise international conferences, professional training, internships and other programmes to help Hong Kong young people and legal professionals work with the IOMed, nurturing more international mediation professionals for Hong Kong.
International Legal Hub
131. The DoJ will construct the Hong Kong International Legal Service Building adjacent to the IOMed headquarters. The building will house facilities such as the headquarters of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy, as well as international legal and dispute resolution services institutions.
Strengthen the Promotion of Hong Kong Legal Services
132. The Deputy Secretary for Justice is tasked to promote Hong Kong's legal services and will collaborate with other professional service sectors, such as accounting and finance, to support Mainland enterprises wishing to expand overseas.
Mediation Culture and Arbitration Development
133. The Government will continue to take forward the Pilot Scheme on Sports Dispute Resolution and the Pilot Scheme on Community Mediation. It will also strengthen the accreditation and disciplinary systems for the mediation profession, and step up promotion of Hong Kong's arbitration services, while studying the need to amend the Arbitration Ordinance.
⁹The average length of stay of container vessels in the Hong Kong port is one day, about half the average of 1.95 days for the world's top 20 container ports.
(To be continued.)
Source: AI-found images
