Maritime London had a stand at the Asian Maritime and Logistics Conference (ALMC) the flagship event of the Hong Kong's Maritime Week and Lord Jeffrey Mountevans also spoke at the well-attended Mare Forum conference on the Wednesday, with some candid and pointed remarks, which unfortunately we cannot report as he was very clear that he was speaking under Chatham House rules.
Thursday saw a joint seminar with Hong Kong Maritime & Port Board with Hong Kong – London Maritime Day – which stressed the natural business partnership between the two cities in the maritime businesses. Almost inevitably Brexit was a topic of conversation indeed with panelist Nigel Anton, head of shipping for Standard Chartered Bank, saying it was the word he currently most associated with the UK.
However, while Britain's exit from the European Union looks a near certainty the message was London was still very much the place for international shipping and maritime to do business.
Harry Theochari, vice chairman of Maritime London said: “We at Maritime London truly believe Hong Kong is our natural partner.” He stressed that London was open for business and urged shipping companies to look to the city for their capital requirements.
In the evening on the same day a reception was held by Maritiem London at the British Consulate in Hong Kong.