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The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, will lead a 16-member shipping mission to Shanghai this afternoon (March 26) to promote the comprehensive shipping services offered by Hong Kong as a long-time international maritime centre, and to enhance development of the maritime industries of both cities.
"The State Council yesterday endorsed in principle that Shanghai should speed up its development into an international shipping hub. I am pleased to lead Hong Kong's shipping industry experts to Shanghai at this opportune moment to share with the Shanghai shipping industry our experience as an international maritime centre, and to exchange views on enhancing co-ordination and synergy and how best to complement each other's strengths," Ms Cheng said.
Members of the delegation include Legislative Councillor Ms Miriam Lau, representing the transport constituency, and experts in ship owning, ship brokering, ship finance, maritime insurance, maritime law and ship registration.
They will attend a welcome dinner hosted by the Shanghai Municipal Urban and Rural Construction and Transportation Commission and the Shanghai Municipal Transport and Port Authority this evening.
Tomorrow (March 27) they will attend the "Seminar on Shanghai-Hong Kong Interactive Development in Shipping Service Industry" hosted by the Shanghai Municipal Urban and Rural Construction and Transport Commission and co-organised by the Hong Kong Maritime Industry Council and the Marine Department.
At the seminar, Ms Cheng and other speakers from the delegation will describe Hong Kong's competitive edge in the maritime industry, including its favourable geographic location, sound legal system, low taxes, good harbour management, first-rate talent and quality professional services. They will also examine how, under the premise of the state's support for consolidating Hong Kong's status as an international maritime centre, both cities could enhance co-operation, achieve synergy and promote the economic development of the country.
Ms Cheng and some members of the delegation will also discuss the development of ship finance with representatives of Shanghai's banking sector at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai.
The delegation will return to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon.
Ends/Thursday, March 26, 2009
Issued at HKT 13:36
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