TLB and Guangzhou Port Authority sign Memorandum of Understanding on Greater Bay maritime co-operation (with photos)19 April 2023
The Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Greater Bay maritime co-operation with the Guangzhou Port Authority (GPA) at the 2023 Greater Bay Maritime Conference hosted by the People's Government of Guangzhou Municipality and Department of Transport of Guangdong Province and organised by GPA, Nansha District Government, Huangpu District Government and Hong Kong Shipowners Association today (May 19).
The MoU was signed via video conferencing by the Acting Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Liu Chun-san, with the Director of the GPA, Mr Sun Xiuqing. It will strengthen the collaboration between TLB and the GPA through establishing a communication mechanism for maritime development; enhancing exchanges on youth and maritime talents in the Greater Bay Area (GBA); and actively promoting the maritime industry in the GBA.
The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, said in his pre-recorded speech at the Conference, "Today's MoU with the GPA is a concrete example of tapping the GBA synergy to enhance mutual competitiveness." The Hong Kong Port has been a transhipment hub in the region, renowned for its high efficiency, strong connectivity and wide coverage, while the Guangzhou Port mainly handles domestic and foreign trade. This will enable a differential development of the ports in the two places on the principle of complementarity, collectively benefiting the manufacturing industry as well as the import and export trade in the GBA and southern China area.
In fact, the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area clearly support Hong Kong to develop high value-added maritime services so as to consolidate its position as an international maritime centre. To this end, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government proactively enhances the competitiveness of the maritime sector, through various measures including the development of smart port for better operation efficiency, the introduction of a series of tax concessions to attract the setting up of high-value maritime business establishments in Hong Kong, the establishment of a task force to put forward an action plan on strategies to further promote the development of Hong Kong as an international maritime centre, as well as additional fund support on manpower training for home-grown talent.
Mr Lam said that with the talent, unique strengths and its well-developed maritime cluster, Hong Kong will continue to play an important role in the provision of high value-added professional services to the global maritime industry. With the synergy between the Government and the maritime sector, Hong Kong is also well positioned to contribute to the further development of the maritime capability of the GBA.
