Hong Kong’s maritime future secure, says HK SAR chief

Speaking of the need to connect Hong Kong’s “common future to our common past,” he said that his government was “fully committed to building on the strengths of the maritime and logistics industries.”

Hong Kong’s maritime history is “longer, richer and more diverse than most people are aware of,” he continued, “and I don’t believe for a moment that maritime is a past glory.”

Indeed the chief executive pointed to several initiatives currently underway in Hong Kong harbour, including a new cruise terminal, improvement of the water quality in the harbour, encouraging ships at berth to switch to low sulphur fuel and the creation of a new harbour front authority to oversee development of the area around the museum into a maritime heritage site.

The harbour is the “very DNA of Hong Kong,” said HKMM chairman Anthony Hardy, formerly with Wallem. “It has always served as a safe anchorage and the heart of the cosmopolitan community with all that goes with it.’

“It is our hope that the museum will play a constructive role in Hong Kong society and enable greater knowledge of the maritime industry and affairs in the community,” said Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) chairman CC Tung and chairman of the HKMM Trust.