We had a very interesting exchange with Mable Chan, Secretary for Transport and Logistics, at the Chamber’s Town Hall Forum on 23 June.

Chan explained the Government’s strategies to enhance Hong Kong ports’ competitiveness in terms of both quantity and quality. One example is actively promoting Hong Kong’s transport and logistics services through visits to Chengdu, Chongqing and Guangxi, with a view to establishing a three-dimensional “rail-sea-land-river” intermodal transport system with the Mainland.

Chan said one of the key roles that Hong Kong plays is as a trade gateway connecting South America and Mainland China, with Hong Kong port currently handling about 40% of the Chilean cherries shipped into the Mainland. Notwithstanding the recent U.S.-Sino trade war, Hong Kong ranked as the fourth-largest shipping register in the world after Liberia, Panama and the Marshall Islands.

Hosted by Wilson Kwong, Chairman of the Transport & Logistics Committee and a member of the General Committee, the forum provided a perfect platform for members to share their hopes and concerns related to the transport and logistics industries. 

Chan addressed a wide range of questions covering topics from strategies for strengthening Hong Kong’s role as a transshipment hub to the Bureau’s progress in developing regular LNG bunkering services.