Source: 7thspace
Hong Kong (HKSAR) - As a key part of Maritime Awareness Week (MAW), the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, and prominent figures of Hong Kong's maritime industry joined a luncheon today (October 29) to mark the 20th anniversary of the Hong Kong Shipping Registry (HKSR). In a keynote speech delivered at the luncheon, Ms Cheng congratulated the autonomous HKSR on its impressive achievements as a shining example of first-rate service offered by the Hong Kong maritime cluster. The HKSR was set up on December 3, 1990.
Starting with a gross tonnage of six million, it is now the fifth largest register globally and has passed the 54 million mark. Ms Cheng said, "Gross tonnage apart, ships flying the Hong Kong flag are also amongst the best performers worldwide. The port state detention rate for Hong Kong ships is only about one third of the world's average." Ms Cheng pointed out that consolidating Hong Kong's position as a renowned international maritime centre and reinforcing the maritime cluster had always ranked high on the agenda of the Government and would remain so.
She said the Government would vigilantly safeguard the institutional strengths essential to maintaining Hong Kong's premier maritime position, such as being a free port, and having an independent judiciary and a common law legal system, a simple and low tax regime, a friendly business environment, free flow of capital and information, practices and requirements that were fully on a par with the relevant international standards, as well as strong and well established international business and maritime network. Ms Cheng noted that admittedly, the Hong Kong Port, as a mature port, could not match the growth rate of ports in the Pearl River Delta. "Nevertheless, Hong Kong's truly global reach and high frequency of sailings have helped maintain and reinforce its status as an international hub port," she said.
"During the first nine months of 2010, we had a throughput of about 18 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units, representing a year-on-year increase of some 13%. Furthermore, in view of Hong Kong's well established competitive advantages in service provision, our reputation in offering tailored logistics services and our experience in handling high value goods, it would be logical for Hong Kong to play to our strengths. Hence, whilst the Government will continue to put in place the necessary infrastructure to meet the needs of the Hong Kong Port in time, the future of Maritime Hong Kong would rely heavily on the service side." Ms Cheng said the Government would step up efforts to nurture a pool of home-grown maritime talents through financial incentive schemes and scholarships and that the Hong Kong Maritime Industry Council and Hong Kong Port Development Council would continue to conduct promotional missions to potential markets.
Also speaking at the luncheon, the Director of Marine, Mr Roger Tupper, echoed Ms Cheng's view on Hong Kong's status as an international hub port. Mr Tupper said, "This large fleet, amongst the top five in the world, provides a constant visual reminder in the great port cities around the globe that Hong Kong is a truly world maritime city." Together with Ms Cheng, Mr Tupper and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association (HKSOA), Mr Kenneth Koo, presented awards at the luncheon to individual and companies which had supported the Sea-going Training Incentive Scheme of the Government. MAW, which is taking place from October 25 to 31, aims to raise the profile of the maritime industry so that the public, the younger generation in particular, will learn more about its important contributions and the various opportunities that it offers.
MAW also reflects Hong Kong's commitment to the International Maritime Organization's during its designated "Year of the Seafarer". For more information, please visit www.maritimeawarenessweek.org.hk/.
Source: HKSAR Government
Hong Kong (HKSAR) - As a key part of Maritime Awareness Week (MAW), the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, and prominent figures of Hong Kong's maritime industry joined a luncheon today (October 29) to mark the 20th anniversary of the Hong Kong Shipping Registry (HKSR). In a keynote speech delivered at the luncheon, Ms Cheng congratulated the autonomous HKSR on its impressive achievements as a shining example of first-rate service offered by the Hong Kong maritime cluster. The HKSR was set up on December 3, 1990.
Starting with a gross tonnage of six million, it is now the fifth largest register globally and has passed the 54 million mark. Ms Cheng said, "Gross tonnage apart, ships flying the Hong Kong flag are also amongst the best performers worldwide. The port state detention rate for Hong Kong ships is only about one third of the world's average." Ms Cheng pointed out that consolidating Hong Kong's position as a renowned international maritime centre and reinforcing the maritime cluster had always ranked high on the agenda of the Government and would remain so.
She said the Government would vigilantly safeguard the institutional strengths essential to maintaining Hong Kong's premier maritime position, such as being a free port, and having an independent judiciary and a common law legal system, a simple and low tax regime, a friendly business environment, free flow of capital and information, practices and requirements that were fully on a par with the relevant international standards, as well as strong and well established international business and maritime network. Ms Cheng noted that admittedly, the Hong Kong Port, as a mature port, could not match the growth rate of ports in the Pearl River Delta. "Nevertheless, Hong Kong's truly global reach and high frequency of sailings have helped maintain and reinforce its status as an international hub port," she said.
"During the first nine months of 2010, we had a throughput of about 18 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units, representing a year-on-year increase of some 13%. Furthermore, in view of Hong Kong's well established competitive advantages in service provision, our reputation in offering tailored logistics services and our experience in handling high value goods, it would be logical for Hong Kong to play to our strengths. Hence, whilst the Government will continue to put in place the necessary infrastructure to meet the needs of the Hong Kong Port in time, the future of Maritime Hong Kong would rely heavily on the service side." Ms Cheng said the Government would step up efforts to nurture a pool of home-grown maritime talents through financial incentive schemes and scholarships and that the Hong Kong Maritime Industry Council and Hong Kong Port Development Council would continue to conduct promotional missions to potential markets.
Also speaking at the luncheon, the Director of Marine, Mr Roger Tupper, echoed Ms Cheng's view on Hong Kong's status as an international hub port. Mr Tupper said, "This large fleet, amongst the top five in the world, provides a constant visual reminder in the great port cities around the globe that Hong Kong is a truly world maritime city." Together with Ms Cheng, Mr Tupper and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association (HKSOA), Mr Kenneth Koo, presented awards at the luncheon to individual and companies which had supported the Sea-going Training Incentive Scheme of the Government. MAW, which is taking place from October 25 to 31, aims to raise the profile of the maritime industry so that the public, the younger generation in particular, will learn more about its important contributions and the various opportunities that it offers.
MAW also reflects Hong Kong's commitment to the International Maritime Organization's during its designated "Year of the Seafarer". For more information, please visit www.maritimeawarenessweek.org.hk/.
Source: HKSAR Government
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