Hong Kong Maritime Week 2025: A Vision for Green and Digital Transformation in the Maritime Industry

Speech by STL at Opening Ceremony of Hong Kong Maritime Week 2025 and World Maritime Merchants Forum 2025 Government Summit

​Following is the speech by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, at Opening Ceremony of Hong Kong Maritime Week 2025 and World Maritime Merchants Forum 2025 Government Summit today (November 17):

Distinguished guests, friends of the global maritime community, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. It is my great honour to address you at the Government Summit of the World Maritime Merchants Forum. I would like to extend my warmest welcome to you all, particularly those travelling a long way from all parts of the world.

Hong Kong takes pride in our long maritime history. Throughout the years, we have grown from a fishing village to a world-renowned maritime centre. Thanks not only to our excellent geographical location, but also our professional expertise, rule of law and our role as a "super connector" linking the East and West.

With the Central People's Government mandate to Hong Kong as an international maritime centre, we have charted new ways to empower the development of our maritime sector. As announced in the Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address, we are establishing a comprehensive "rail-sea-land-river" intermodal transport system to extend Hong Kong's cargo sources to inland of the Chinese Mainland. Additionally, we will establish "partner port" relationships with Mainland ports, which are of strategic collaboration significance, as well as Belt and Road regions, and prepare for the development of a green shipping corridor.

Green transformation is a major global trend in the maritime industry. Our Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering promulgated in 2024 has set our measures in motion, with nearly 200 000 tonnes of liquefied natural gas and biodiesel bunkered this year. Digitalisation is also a vital focus for the development of the maritime industry nowadays. Our Port Community System providing real-time cargo tracking information through Hong Kong ports up to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will be launched in two months, connecting all stakeholders in the logistics chain, thereby enhancing operational efficiency. The data collected through this system can support trade financing.

Indeed, we have drawn up a long list of tasks through which Hong Kong as an international maritime centre will grow from strength to strength. Let us work together to steer our maritime industry toward a smarter and greener future. On behalf of the Transport and Logistics Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, may I once again express my sincere appreciation for your support to the Hong Kong Maritime Week. I wish you a fruitful and rewarding week ahead. Thank you.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the speech.)

Speech by STL at Opening Ceremony of Hong Kong Maritime Week 2025 and World Maritime Merchants Forum 2025 Government Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Police National Security Department arrests one man

The National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force (NSD) took enforcement actions in Sheung Shui today (December 6) and arrested a 71-year-old local man, for being suspected of "prejudicing of investigation of offences endangering national security" and "doing an act that has a seditious intention with a seditious intention" in contravention of Section 88 and 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance respectively.

Investigation revealed that the arrested man was suspected of disclosing details of a case endangering national security, after assisting with the investigation conducted earlier by NSD officers. He was also suspected of publishing multiple videos with seditious intention online, with content provoking hatred towards the Central Authorities, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Judiciary.

The man is being detained for further enquiries.

Police took law enforcement actions based on evidence and in accordance with the actual circumstances, and applied Section 88 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance for the first time. The article stipulated that if a person knows or suspects that an investigation of an offence endangering national security is being conducted, the person with intent to prejudice the investigation; or being reckless as to whether the investigation will be prejudiced, without reasonable excuse or lawful authority, makes any disclosure; or the person knowing or suspecting that any material is likely to be relevant to the investigation; and with intent to conceal the facts disclosed by the material from persons conducting the investigation, without reasonable excuse, falsifies, conceals, destroys or otherwise disposes of the material, or causes or permits the material to be falsified, concealed, destroyed or otherwise disposed of, commits an offence. Offenders shall be liable to imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.

Police remind members of the public that "doing an act that has a seditious intention with a seditious intention" is also a serious offence. Offenders shall be liable to imprisonment for seven years on first conviction.

Source: AI-found images