In his recent op-ed published in Wen Wei Po, Prof. Mike LAI Kee-hung, Co-Director of the Research Centre for Environmental, Social, and Governance Advancement (RCESGA), Head of the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, and Chair Professor of Shipping and Logistics, argued that Hong Kong must comprehensively advance the digitalisation, smart transformation and green transition of its maritime sector, steering its evolution from a traditional “container port” into a high-value-added “value port”.
Prof. Lai noted that, amidst intensifying international competition, Hong Kong should no longer compete solely on throughput volume. Instead, the city should capitalise on its distinctive advantages under “One Country, Two Systems”, its common law framework, and its established financial ecosystem. By focusing on high value-added maritime services, including ship financing, marine insurance, maritime law and dispute arbitration, Hong Kong can create complementary synergies with ports across the Greater Bay Area (GBA), evolving from a mere “transhipment hub” into a genuine “value creator in cross-border trade”.
To realise this strategic blueprint, Prof. Lai highlighted four key priorities:
- Integrating Service Mechanisms: Establishing a consolidated service directory and a case-coordination mechanism to deliver seamless, one-stop maritime support.
- Deepening GBA Collaboration: Enhancing operational alignment, instituting transit-time commitments for river–sea intermodal transport, and promoting cross-boundary data interoperability and mutual recognition.
- Pioneering Green Finance: Establishing testing and pilot scenarios to advance carbon accounting methodologies and facilitate the financing and underwriting of alternative-energy vessels.
- Fostering Maritime Technology: Anchoring initiatives in the Northern Metropolis and the Hetao region to build an innovation ecosystem driven by the model of “R&D in Hong Kong, piloting in the GBA, and serving the global market”.
Prof. Lai concluded that Hong Kong’s core competitive edge lies in its capacity to align international standards with cross-disciplinary expertise. By developing a comprehensive maritime services ecosystem, Hong Kong can further strengthen its position as an international maritime centre while supporting the nation’s maritime industry in advancing towards high-end development.
Online coverage:
Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3VyGGPQ (Chinese only)
| Research Units | Research Centre for Environmental, Social, and Governance Advancement |
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