Hong Kong Maritime Week 2025 Launches with Record Participation and Focus on Green Shipping Initiatives

Hong Kong Maritime Week 2025 holds opening ceremony today to lead shipping green transitions (with photos/video)

Hong Kong Maritime Week (HKMW) officially held its opening ceremony today (November 17). Marking its ninth edition, HKMW showcases Hong Kong's status as a leading Global Maritime Capital with quality maritime services provided by our vibrant maritime cluster amidst the theme "Navigating to a Greener Future" and the tagline "Propel Hong Kong". The seven-day HKMW 2025 hits a record-high participation number, and is expected to attract over 18 000 participants from all over the world. They collectively witnessed three highlights of today's event, including the announcement of first-batch "partner ports", facilitation of two industry collaboration agreements, and official establishment of the Hong Kong Shipowners Mutual Assurance Association.

Opening Ceremony of Hong Kong Maritime Week 2025 cum World Maritime Merchants Forum 2025

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said that in this era of profound and complex transformation, Hong Kong's role as a stable, reliable and dynamic maritime hub has never been more vital, highlighting that Hong Kong's standing is consistently endorsed by the international community, having been ranked fourth globally as an international shipping centre for six consecutive years. Looking ahead, he expressed Hong Kong's determination to be at the forefront as a premier green maritime fuel-bunkering centre, with a vision to become the epicenter of the global green maritime fuel trade. He called for collaboration to build green shipping corridors and digital trade lanes that will define the future of safe, efficient and sustainable global shipping, stating that the city's policy support, expertise, strategic vision and unwavering commitment can allow it to play a pivotal role in navigating the next era of shipping. Mr Lee also witnessed the official establishment of the Hong Kong Shipowners Mutual Assurance Association with a group of guests, including Vice-Chairman of National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr C Y Leung; the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Zhou Ji; Vice Minister of Transport Mr Fu Xuyin; and the Chairman of China Merchants Group, Mr Miao Jianmin.

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Mr Arsenio Antonio Domínguez Velasco, emphasised in his recorded speech that Hong Kong is a strategic port location and centre for maritime services, fully demonstrating that shipping is a vibrant and vital enabler of 80 per cent of world trade.

The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, spoke at the World Maritime Merchants Forum (WMMF) 2025 Government Summit, "We are grateful to the Central Government for its support in consolidating Hong Kong's position as an international maritime centre. The HKSAR Government will spare no effort and continue to actively promote the development of the maritime industry." She added that the Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address proposed to establish a "Rail-sea-land-river" intermodal transport system to extend cargo sources from the Chinese Mainland, to build "partner port" relationships with Belt and Road regions, to promote green shipping and digital transformation, to amend legislation for providing half-rate tax concessions to eligible commodity traders, as well as to enhance the flexibility of ship registration in Hong Kong. Hong Kong will continue to leverage its advantages as a "super-connector" to build a smart and green international maritime centre.

The two-day WMMF explores topics on navigating crises and pursuing sustainability in the shipping industry amidst global geopolitical and economic transformations, with sub-forums focusing on shipping markets, legal and insurance issues, port and logistics, shipping finance, and shipbuilding and repair.

Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference

The Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference (ALMAC), another anchor event of the HKMW, also commenced today. This two-day event brings together global shippers, logistics providers, and aviation stakeholders to exchange insights and explore business opportunities. The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, also officiated at the conference, and unveiled the first batch of "partner port", including Guangxi and Dalian of the Chinese Mainland, and San Antonio Port of Chile, which marks a significant step in further deepening the exchanges and collaboration between Hong Kong and the international maritime networks.

This year's HKMW carries special significance as it is the first-ever edition following the establishment of Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board (HKMPDB) on July 1 this year. To signify this key milestone of the Hong Kong's maritime industry, HKMPDB has, for the first time, partnered with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) to host the Hong Kong Maritime Week 2025 X Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference 2025 VIP Luncheon. Speaking at the luncheon, the Chairman of the HKMPDB, Dr Moses Cheng, said, "With no doubt, the geopolitical tension in recent years has posed challenges to Hong Kong maritime industry. Having said that, our maritime strengths, including our city's free port status, efficient clearance process and common law system etc. continue to propel Hong Kong as a Global Maritime Capital with a large and diversified cluster of maritime-related companies."

At the luncheon, container terminal operators in Hong Kong also signed two Memoranda of Understanding with the Western New Land-Sea Corridor and Guangxi Beibu Gulf, launching a premium sea-rail transshipment service connecting Sichuan, Chongqing, Guangxi and Hong Kong, thereby further expanding and strengthening the Comprehensive "Rail-sea-land-river" Intermodal Transport System, as well as enabling the flow and sharing of sea-rail transshipment cargo data between Hong Kong and Guangxi.

Several international conferences being held in Hong Kong

This year's HKMW will foster stronger connections among the global maritime trade. Returning to the stage in Hong Kong, the 2nd Hong Kong Global Maritime Trade Summit organised by the International Chamber of Shipping concluded today, with policymakers and industry leaders gathering at the Summit to present challenges and solutions for effecting the changes under the rapid-changing global maritime trade environment. Making its debut at the HKMW, the three-day International Bunker Industry Association Annual Convention 2025 will gather global bunker leaders to discuss alternative fuels, market trends, regulatory updates, and digitalisation in bunkering. The IMO will host two seminars respectively, focusing on ship recycling and shipping energy transition. The aforesaid events collectively demonstrate the confidence of the international community in Hong Kong as a global maritime capital.

Seven-day HKMW 2025 featuring over 50 events

The seven-day HKMW 2025 will feature over 50 events hosted by more than 70 local, Chinese Mainland, and international organisations, and is expected to attract over 18 000 participants from all over the world.

The HKMPDB Flagship Session - Hong Kong: A Global Maritime Capital to be held tomorrow (November 18), will focus on green finance, legal certainty, and regional collaboration to build investable decarbonisation frameworks from the perspective of Hong Kong's maritime industry.

To spotlight Hong Kong's global maritime role and the HKMW 2025, the Transport and Logistics Bureau has partnered with Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) to produce two feature stories, which will be broadcasted on TVB Jade at around 7.30pm today and tomorrow respectively.

The HKMW 2025 is organised by the HKMPDB, with the Hong Kong Shipowners Association and the Hong Kong Maritime Museum as co-organisers, and the HKTDC and Invest Hong Kong as partners. It is also supported by 17 prominent maritime associations and 24 mainstream media outlets. For more details, please visit www.hkmw.hk.

Hong Kong Maritime Week 2025 holds opening ceremony today to lead shipping green transitions (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Maritime Week 2025 holds opening ceremony today to lead shipping green transitions (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR Government welcomes court's decision to dismiss Chow Hang Tung's application for judicial review on clothing policy for persons in custody

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government welcomes the judgment handed down by the Court of First Instance of the High Court today (January 13) to dismiss Chow Hang Tung's application for judicial review on the clothing policy for persons in custody (PICs).

The court judgment pointed out that the current clothing policy for PICs, including the requirement for female PICs to wear trousers in summer daytime, was formulated by the Correctional Services Department (CSD) as authorised by the Prison Rules. The Court was satisfied that the CSD had the expertise and experience in the relevant context, and that it had carefully considered various factors, taken into account of professional opinion when making the decision, as well as reviewed the policy continuously. The Court ruled that Chow Hang Tung had failed to demonstrate that the current policy constituted less favourable treatment of a particular gender. The Court pointed out that there was currently no factual evidence to support any assertion that there was widespread concern about the health effects of wearing trousers in summer. In addition, the rule was not absolute, but instead allowed individual PICs to apply for exceptional arrangements in special circumstances. At the same time, the Court also rejected Chow Hang Tung's assertion that she had requested to the CSD in July and August 2024 to wear shorts and had been refused.

A spokesman for the Security Bureau said, "The ruling of the Court of First Instance confirmed that the CSD's approach is reasonable, justified and lawful. According to Rule 26 of the Prison Rules, the CSD must provide every PIC with a uniform that meets a scale imposed by the Commissioner of Correctional Services. Over the years, the CSD had appointed task groups from time to time to review the clothing arrangements of PICs. These reviews gave ample consideration to numerous factors, including the type of correctional institutions, PICs' varying daily routines and activities involved, the need for thermal, physical and psychological comfort for PICs of different genders, privacy and decency of PICs and the security, good order and discipline of the prison, so as to continuously refine clothing arrangements according to the prevailing circumstances."

The spokesman stated, "Chow Hang Tung's assertion that she requested to wear shorts in summer and was rejected by the CSD is entirely inconsistent with the facts and was rejected by the Court. Besides, the current clothing policy for PICs already provides a degree of flexibility. For example, a PIC may make an application to wear other clothing on medical or non-medical grounds to the CSD, and the CSD would make appropriate arrangements having considered the actual circumstances and relevant factors."

The CSD will continue to impartially implement the relevant rules of the Prison Rules in accordance with the law and commit to providing a secure, safe, humane, decent and healthy custodial environment.

Source: AI-found images