Prof. Mike LAI urges Hong Kong to grow high-value maritime services to secure global shipping hub status Against a backdrop of global supply chain restructuring and rising geopolitical risks, Hong Kong’s shipping industry is facing mounting challenges, including cargo diversion, persistently high costs and intensifying competition from regional ports. 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), Associate Dean (Academic Support) of the Faculty of Business, Interim Head of the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, and Chair Professor of Shipping and Logistics, noted that the core challenge confronting Hong Kong’s shipping industry is not merely a decline in cargo volume, but a structural imbalance. He argued that Hong Kong must fully leverage its institutional strengths, international networks and strong financial services capabilities to accelerate its transformation into a diversified and integrated shipping hub. Prof. Lai said that, in line with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong could enhance its overall competitiveness and attractiveness by reducing port and cross-boundary transport costs, promoting direct access for Greater Bay Area lorries to the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals, and encouraging green vessels to call at Hong Kong. At the same time, Hong Kong should focus on developing high-value maritime services, including shipping finance, marine insurance, legal arbitration, ship management and green finance, while also expediting the implementation of electronic bills of lading and the enhancement of the recently launched port community system to improve the integration of logistics, capital and information flows, thereby improving overall service efficiency. The article also suggests that the ports of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou should clearly define their respective roles: Hong Kong should focus on international trans-shipment and high-end services, Shenzhen on exports from high-tech manufacturing, and Guangzhou on inland intermodal transport. Through coordination and complementarity, rather than destructive competition, the three ports can jointly strengthen the Greater Bay Area’s strategic position as a new global hub for maritime trade. Online coverage: Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/4tnzUaP 黎基雄教授倡香港發展高增值航運服務 鞏固國際航運中心地位
在全球供應鏈重組及地緣政治風險升溫的背景下，香港航運業正面對貨源流失、成本高企及區內港口競爭加劇等挑戰。理大環境，社會，和治理促進研究中心聯席主任、工商管理學院副院長（學務統籌）、物流及航運學系暫任系主任、航運及物流講座教授黎基雄，日前於《文匯報》撰文指出，香港航運業當前面對的核心問題，不僅在於貨量下跌，更在於產業結構失衡；香港必須善用制度優勢、國際網絡及金融服務實力，加快轉型為多元化的綜合航運樞紐。 黎教授表示，配合國家「十五五」規劃，香港可透過降低港口及跨境運輸成本、推動大灣區貨車直達葵青碼頭、鼓勵綠色船舶靠港等措施，全面提升整體競爭力與吸引力。同時，香港亦應聚焦發展高增值航運服務，包括航運金融、海事保險、法律仲裁、船舶管理及綠色融資等，並加快推進電子提單及港口社區系統建設，打通物流、資金流與資訊流，提升航運服務的整體效能。 文章亦建議，香港、深圳及廣州三地港口應進一步明確分工：香港主攻國際轉運及高端服務，深圳聚焦高科技製造出口，廣州則發展內陸聯運，透過協同互補避免惡性競爭，共同鞏固大灣區作為全球航運新高地的戰略地位。 網上報導：文匯報 - https://polyu.me/4tnzUaP
