Hong Kong’s maritime upgrading: Prof. Mike LAI Kee-hung outlines four key priorities
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)
香港航運轉型路向：黎基雄教授提出四大發展重點
香港理工大學環境，社會，和治理促進研究中心聯席主任、物流及航運學系系主任、航運及物流講座教授黎基雄教授，日前於《文匯報》撰文指出，香港應全面推動航運「數字化、智能化與綠色化」，確立由傳統「貨櫃港」轉型為高增值「價值港」的發展方向。
黎教授表示，面對日益激烈的國際競爭，香港不應再單純比拼吞吐量，而應善用「一國兩制」、普通法及金融體系優勢，聚焦海事融資、保險、法律及仲裁等高增值服務，並與大灣區港口實現優勢互補，從單純的「貨物中轉站」躍升為「跨境貿易的價值創造者」。
1. 整合服務機制：建立服務清單及個案協調機制，提供一站式海事支援服務。
2. 深化灣區協作：加強業務對接，推動江海聯運時效承諾，以及數據互聯互通和互認。
3. 開拓綠色金融：搭建試驗場景，推進減碳核算，以及新能源船舶融資和保險服務。
4. 培育海事科技：立足北部都會區及河套地區，打造「研發在港、試驗在灣區、服務全球」的創科生態。
黎教授總結表示，香港的核心競爭力在於連接國際標準與跨界專業。通過構建全方位的海事服務生態體系，香港可進一步鞏固其國際航運中心地位，並助力國家航運產業邁向高端化發展。
網上報導：
文匯報 - https://polyu.me/3VyGGPQ
