The Special Administrative Region is home to more than 1 200 port and maritime-related companies and a major thriving maritime and aviation logistics hub
The following are the transcripts of the keynote speech delivered by the Hon. John KC Lee, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) at the grand inaugural ceremony of the landmark Hong Kong Maritime Week 2025 and the milestone 15th Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference (ALMAC), held at the imposing Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), on Monday 17 November 2025 under the theme ‘Collaboration and Growth in the New Trade Landscape’.
Hon. C Y Leung, Vice-Chairman of National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Hon. Zhou Ji, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government (CPG) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR); Hon. Fu Xuyin, Vice Minister of Transport; Hon. Chen Feng, Deputy Head, Office for Safeguarding National Security of the CPG in the HKSAR; Hon. Li Yongsheng, Acting Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR and Hon. Miao Jianmin, Chairman of the China Merchants Group, and assembled distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
Good afternoon. A very warm welcome to Hong Kong, Asia’s world city, and to the opening of the Hong Kong Maritime Week 2025 and the fifth World Maritime Merchants Forum, which bring together our maritime cluster, and underline Hong Kong’s status as one of the world’s leading maritime centres.
The theme for the Hong Kong Maritime Week, ‘Navigating to a Greener Future’, signals our shared destination. Complementing this, the theme of the World Maritime Merchants Forum, ‘Steering sustainability through changes’, is our navigational chart for the journey ahead.
In a world being reshaped by geopolitical discord, technological disruption and climate change, these themes are more than aspirational. They sound an alarm, a wake-up call to collective action.
Profound transformation
In this era of profound and complex transformation, Hong Kong’s role as a stable, reliable and dynamic maritime hub has never been more vital. The principle of “one country, two systems” is the cornerstone of our success, providing us with an unshakeable foundation.
As our country’s only bilingual common law jurisdiction, Hong Kong offers a simple and low tax regime, free port status and the unfettered flow of capital, information and talent.
Our standing is consistently acknowledged, and endorsed, by the international community. For the sixth consecutive year, Hong Kong ranked fourth, globally, in the International Shipping Centre Development Index. This pays tribute to our strengths in port infrastructure, maritime services and overall operating environment.
Thriving cluster
Hong Kong is home to more than 1 200 port and maritime-related companies, a thriving cluster of global leaders in ship management, finance, insurance and law. The Hong Kong Shipowners Mutual Assurance Association’s launch ceremony, in just a few minutes, will mark a milestone development, further enrich our maritime services and reinforce Hong Kong’s role as a ‘super-connector’ and ‘super value-adder’.
Our tax concession regime for high value-added maritime services continues to attract global businesses. And we are planning to extend half-rate tax concessions to physical commodity traders, further integrating the critical pillars of trade, commodities and shipping here in Hong Kong.
Beyond our business-friendly foundations, our focus is firmly on the future. And the imperative for green growth is the defining challenge, and opportunity, of our generation.
IMO’s net zero framework
With the International Maritime Organization’s Net-Zero Framework targeting to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in international shipping by around the year 2050, Hong Kong is determined to be at the forefront, as a premier green maritime fuel-bunkering centre.
Since publishing our Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering a year ago, we have materialized regular commercial liquefied natural gas and biodiesel bunkering.
Our vision is to become the epicentre of the global green maritime fuel trade. And our proximity to the Chinese Mainland, the world’s largest producer of green maritime fuel, is a critical advantage. We will continue to collaborate with maritime associations and business partners globally to drive the transition towards sustainability.
Indeed, collaboration on an unprecedented scale is essential as we face challenges from geopolitical tensions, trade protectionism, technological disruption, and the climate crisis – issues too vast for any single economy to solve alone.
Green shipping corridors
Let us work together to build green shipping corridors and digital trade lanes that will define the future of safe, efficient and sustainable global shipping.
Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong is ready to be your partner. Our policy support, expertise, strategic vision and unwavering commitment can play a pivotal role in navigating the next era of shipping. Together, we can steer a course towards a more sustainable, prosperous and collaborative future.
I wish you all a rewarding Hong Kong Maritime Week, a productive World Maritime Merchants Forum, and fair winds and following seas, in business as in life. Thank you.
