John Lee Highlights Opportunities at Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference 2025 in Hong Kong

Speech by CE at Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference 2025 (with photos/video)

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference 2025 today (November 17):

Honourable Deputy Minister Almaz Turgunbaev (Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, Kyrgyz Republic), Professor Frederick Ma (Chairman, Hong Kong Trade Development Council), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon. It's a great pleasure to welcome you to the 15th Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference, and to Hong Kong, Asia's logistics capital.

A special welcome to Mr Turgunbaev, the Kyrgyz Republic's Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications. He's here to share with you the latest logistics developments, and business and investment opportunities, in Kyrgyzstan. And I am sure he's eager to hear from you, too.

After all, some 2 300 high-profile logistics leaders and professionals from more than 40 countries and regions are here for this year's two-day conference. Here to learn more about prospects in Central Asia and the Middle East in special conference sessions. Here, too, for insight and intelligence spotlighting supply chain diversification, sustainability and green energy, innovation and technology, the low-altitude economy and much more.

The conference theme this year, "Collaboration and Growth in the New Trade Landscape", is a timely response to rising geopolitical tensions and the volatile global trade policies, which present considerable challenges for our maritime, aviation and logistics industries, from route planning and shipping fleet deployment to inventory and warehouse management.

Nevertheless, as the Chinese saying goes, "where there are challenges, there are opportunities". Geopolitical risks can be overcome by market diversification. Increased costs related to supply chain concerns can be offset, at least partially, by technology-enabled efficiencies.

Hong Kong is well-positioned to weather the storm and seize new opportunities. We are an international shipping and trading centre strategically located in the heart of Asia, and a pivotal player in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. As the world's largest manufacturing base, the Greater Bay Area commands an extensive air and sea transport network.

Hong Kong is also the world's busiest air cargo hub and one of its busiest sea ports. And I am confident we will create new and rewarding collaborations, while taking full advantage of the latest technologies to maintain the sustainable growth of our maritime, aviation and logistics sector.

We are, for example, deepening our connections with both traditional and emerging markets. And we are exploring new opportunities in the Belt and Road countries.

Today, I am particularly pleased to announce that Hong Kong has established Partner Port relationships with Guangxi port and Dalian port in the Chinese Mainland, and Port San Antonio in Chile. These ports are of strategic importance, and true to our character and policy priorities. As an international maritime centre, we connect the Chinese Mainland with the world and seek partners who support an open, international trade order.

Hong Kong is also committed to building a sustainable future powered by digital and green transformation. Harnessing the power of AI, blockchain, cloud computing and other cutting-edge technologies, we are developing a Port Community System. Launching in January, it will enable real-time cargo tracking and facilitate data exchange across transport modes, boosting trade and capital flows digitally. That opens up new opportunities, from trade financing to more efficient customs declaration.

The low altitude economy represents another promising growth area. Building on our initial regulatory sandbox pilot projects, we will introduce an advanced regulatory sandbox for complex scenarios, aimed at expanding the low altitude economy. This will facilitate its application in logistics and other innovative business sectors.

We are also committed to Hong Kong's rise as a green maritime fuel bunkering hub. It's been a year since our Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering was published. With its orderly implementation, Hong Kong is emerging as a major port offering regular commercial bunkering services for multiple types of fuel.

Our ambitions, however, are larger than that. We are looking to build the necessary infrastructure for Hong Kong to become a global centre of trade for green maritime fuel, especially those produced in the Chinese Mainland, by far the world's biggest supplier.

An equally green endeavour is our pursuit of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) expertise in the logistics field. In June, we published an ESG roadmap for the logistics industry, providing a clear pathway to ESG compliance. It will help strengthen the competitiveness of our logistics industry players, particularly SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), putting us at the forefront in the world's continuing pursuit of sustainability.

Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong has long thrived in the face of adversity. Resilience defines us as an international maritime centre and aviation and logistics hub.

With Hong Kong as your partner, you can confidently ride the wave of opportunities this region has to offer, building strong supply chains together through our extensive business and transport networks and internationally recognised institutional strengths.

My thanks to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council for organising this year's Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference. It is one of the two anchor events of this year's Hong Kong Maritime Week, alongside the World Maritime Merchants Forum, which also opened today and continues through tomorrow.

Hong Kong Maritime Week runs through November 22, packed full of forums, conferences, seminars, tours, visits, receptions, and much more, all under the theme "Navigating to a Greener Future" - where we all want to be.

I wish you the best of business at the conference, and a memorable stay in Hong Kong, Asia's world city, and the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. Thank you.

Speech by CE at Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by CE at Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming male passenger was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (December 8) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted a 31-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (December 7). About 13 900 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $62,000 and a duty potential of about $46,000, were seized from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases