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The Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Transport), Mr Francis Ho, is currently leading a Hong Kong Logistics Development Council delegation on a visit to the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
The eight-member delegation, which left Hong Kong on Sunday (November 22), aims to foster and renew relations between Hong Kong's logistics industry and its counterparts in the three countries, and promote Hong Kong as a springboard to the huge market of Mainland China.
"When we are talking about globalisation and its opportunities, we cannot take our eyes away from the emerging economies in the Asia Pacific, particularly China. This is where Hong Kong as a well established logistics hub in Asia and China comes in for European companies," Mr Ho said in a keynote speech at a seminar and luncheon in Rotterdam today (November 24).
The event, with "Hong Kong: A Premier Logistics Hub and the Gateway to China" as its theme, was organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Government with the support of the Holland International Distribution Council and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
Members of the delegation at the seminar highlighted Hong Kongˇ¦s various strengths, including a free economy, a fair and transparent regulatory regime, its strategic location, first-class infrastructure and connectivity, deep pool of supply chain talent, comprehensive support services, expertise in servicing high-value items, and unrivalled access to new business opportunities in Mainland China.
Mr Ho also pointed out that Hong Kong distinguished itself in the region by offering good security, reliable quality assurance and good intellectual property protection. These are key to its cost-effective management of high value goods like aviation spare parts, electronic goods and luxury fashion items and excellence in its role as a regional distribution centre.
Another mission of the delegation is to learn more about the transformation and integration of European ports and logistics services in a fast-changing global landscape.
Members have visited the Port of Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport and a third-party logistics company, and will visit the Port of Rotterdam and a cargo centre at the Luxembourg Airport.
The delegation has met officials of the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management of the Netherlands, and has established contact with leaders of the business and logistics sectors at a dinner hosted by Mr Ho.
Mr Ho will speak at another luncheon in Brussels tomorrow (November 25), organised by the Belgium-Hong Kong Society. Tomorrow and Thursday (November 26), the delegation will meet the Director-General Competition of the European Commission, Mr Philip Lowe, Belgian and European Commission officials in charge of transport, and Luxembourg economic and trade officials.
Members of the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council delegation include Legislative Councillor, Ms Miriam Lau; Chairman of the Hong Kong Shippers' Council, Mr Willy Lin; Chief Executive of GS1 Hong Kong, Ms Anna Lin; Senior Programme Director of the School of Professional and Continuing Education, University of Hong Kong, Mr Leung Kong-yui; Chairman of the Hong Kong Container Terminal Operators Association, Mr Alan Lee; and Deputy Secretary for Transport and Housing (Transport), Ms Doris Cheung.
Ends/Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Issued at HKT 22:22
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