Leung Chun-Ying Addresses Shipping Concerns in Hong Kong's Container Throughput

Enhancing Shipping Services in Hong Kong

A former Hong Kong chief executive has dismissed concerns over the local container port losing out to rivals, while emphasizing the need to develop related legal and insurance services to strengthen the city’s status as an international shipping centre. Leung Chun-Ying, now a vice-chairman of the country’s top political advisory body, also said on Sunday that many Hong Kong-based business chambers and professional groups had not visited mainland China enough to help identify new opportunities for the city.

Maritime Institutions Need Focus

Leung called for the focus on maritime sector services ahead of a high-level seminar being held by the Hong Kong Chamber of Shipping on Monday. The country has consistently urged Hong Kong to enhance its status as an international shipping centre, a discussion that has been ongoing for many years. But improvement doesn’t simply mean expanding terminal operations, he said.

Comparing Global Container Ports

We shouldn’t be too concerned that the throughput of our [Kwai Tsing] Container Terminals has fallen behind many other ports in mainland China and around the world, Leung noted. The Kwai Tsing site, which operates as the city’s international container port, failed for the first time to rank among the world’s top 10 ports last year, according to figures from shipping data provider Alphaliner.

• Top Chinese ports include Ningbo, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Tianjin, and Shanghai.
• Singapore and Dubai also rank high on the list of global container ports.

Leung cited London as an example of a city that had developed a robust shipping services industry. Its shipping services are very advanced and highly profitable, he stated.

Shipping Industry Opportunities in Hong Kong

According to Maritime UK, an umbrella body for the country’s maritime sector, Britain leads the world with a 35 percent share of global marine insurance premiums. The UK also leads rivals in global shipbroking, with 26 percent of the activity undertaken in the country. Leung argues that Hong Kong should develop a shipping services cluster covering logistics, financing, trade, and professional services.