Hong Kong Maritime Week 2023
20.11.2023

The opening ceremony of Hong Kong Maritime Week 2023 (HKMW 2023), a major annual event of the maritime and port industries in Hong Kong, was held today (November 20), bringing together maritime leaders home and abroad for a week of activities that reinforce Hong Kong's position as an international maritime centre. Showcasing the Hong Kong maritime industry as a strong cluster, this year's theme of "Recharging the Maritime Industry" reflects the resilience and vision that define the city's maritime sector. The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said in his speech at the opening ceremony that the "one country, two systems" principle has bestowed upon Hong Kong its unique role as a "super connector" and a "super value-adder", entrusting Hong Kong with the steadfast support from the Central Government and unparalleled connectivity with the world. He said that the National 14th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong's role in the global maritime sector, with a focus on the development of high value-added maritime services. "Our professionals are here to contribute to adding important value to the prosperous development in Hong Kong, along the Belt and Road, and beyond." Mr Lee said. Officiating at the opening ceremony which was followed by the Main Forum of the 3rd World Maritime Merchants Forum, an anchor event of HKMW 2023, the Chairman of the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board (HKMPB) and Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, said, "We will continue to give full play to Hong Kong's distinctive advantage of being simultaneously connected to both the Mainland and the world. As the 'super-connector' and 'super value-adder' in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), we are working closely with our peers to promote the overall competitiveness of the region. Our collaboration with the China Merchants Group to organise the long-anticipated World Maritime Merchants Forum is a clear illustration of our strength, bringing the very platform for high-level meetings of brilliant minds from global shipping, political, and business spheres." A number of signature activities of HKMW 2023 are worth highlighting. The Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference comes with the theme "Future-proofing Supply Chains: Diversification‧Decarbonisation‧Digitalisation". The 3rd World Maritime Merchants Forum, themed as "Riding the Wave", will highlight the challenges and opportunities faced by the shipping industry amid major changes of the global economy and trade. M.V. Yu Kun, the nation's first developed ocean-going vessel dedicated for maritime training managed by Dalian Maritime University (DMU), has been visiting Hong Kong during HKMW 2023. Through visiting M.V. Yu Kun and face-to-face exchange with DMU delegation members, members of the public may gain a better understanding about seafarers' daily life on board, maritime education and ship technologies nowadays. Close to 50 activities, organised by local, Mainland and international marine institutes in support of HKMW 2023, will also take place seven days in a row. The themes range from building up the maritime talent pool, education and career, GBA development, green shipping, maritime insurance, maritime law and arbitration, maritime technology, ports and logistics, ship finance, ship leasing under Hong Kong's preferential ship leasing tax regime, ship management, and shipping and maritime. HKMW organised by the HKMPB is in its seventh edition this year. Co-organisers of the event are the Hong Kong Shipowners Association and the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, together with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Invest Hong Kong as partners. For more details of HKMW 2023, please visit www.hkmw.hk . Ends/Monday, November 20, 2023 Issued at HKT 15:35 NNNN