The 2025 World Shipping Congress recently concluded in Hong Kong, with government and enterprise representatives and experts from the global shipping industry chain conducting in-depth discussions on hot topics such as trade barriers, carbon emission management, artificial intelligence, and big data applications. Attendees pointed out that in the face of three core challenges: insufficient coordination of decarbonization rules, the impact of geopolitical crises on operations, and the shortage of seafarers restricting development, dialogue and cooperation are the ways to solve the shipping industry's problems. Attendees hope that Hong Kong can continue to make efforts in the three dimensions of internal and external communication, green transformation, and open cooperation based on its unique advantages, providing a stable "anchor" for the uncertain global shipping industry and injecting Hong Kong's strength into shaping a fair, open, and collaborative new pattern of global shipping trade. Xie Kapan Kannan, Regional Business Manager of Alfa Laval (China) Co., Ltd. in Sweden, said that most of its clients are connected through Hong Kong, fully reflecting the gateway role of Hong Kong's internal and external communication. Hong Kong not only has significant advantages in IPO business, but also relies on its geographical location adjacent to the mainland, high-quality investment environment, advanced technology, efficient legal system, and sufficient talent reserves, combined with the rich industrial resources in the mainland, to become a core hub connecting the mainland and international markets. Under the framework of 'One Country, Two Systems', Hong Kong enjoys unique advantages such as a common law system, low tax system, and free port status, attracting global shipping companies to take root. Hong Kong has ranked fourth in the International Shipping Centre Development Index for six consecutive years, with over 1200 port and maritime related enterprises gathered. The Chairman of the Hong Kong Shipowners' Association, Ban Ka, stated that Hong Kong, relying on the "One Country, Two Systems" policy and its position as an international financial center, has a bright future in building a global shipping capital. The support of finance and professional services has highlighted Hong Kong's pivotal role. As the world's third-largest financial center, Hong Kong's capabilities in IPO financing, green bonds, and other areas provide capital support for the development of the shipping industry. Martin Kroger, CEO of the German Shipowners Association, said that the mainland is expected to become one of the world's major alternative fuel production areas, and Hong Kong's financial advantages can provide guarantees for this capacity conversion. This combination of "mainland capacity+Hong Kong finance" is a competitive advantage that other regions find difficult to replicate. As a globally renowned financial, trade, shipping center and legal hub, Hong Kong gathers all industry chain entities and stakeholders including banks, shipowners, insurance companies, etc. Rolf Tore Ropestad, CEO of Norwegian maritime insurance group Gald, stated that Hong Kong's practicality in formulating commercial rules that consider the demands of all parties gives it a natural advantage as a maritime rules coordinator in the context of fragmented global rules. At the same time, Hong Kong can consider the demands of emerging economies and developing countries and play a constructive role in international rule making. Focusing on green and practical actions to break through the situation and tackle decarbonization in the shipping industry, Hong Kong is taking practical actions to promote the green transformation of its ports. Nearly 200000 tons of green fuel have been injected, and methanol injection is about to be launched, in preparation for building a green shipping corridor. Chen Meibao, the Secretary for Transport and Logistics of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, stated that despite the delay in the implementation of the International Maritime Organization's emission reduction framework, Hong Kong has adopted the "Green Marine Fuel Refueling Action Plan", which clearly outlines the implementation roadmap and goals, steadily moving towards the net zero emissions target set by the International Maritime Organization by 2050. Legal policies take the lead in clearing obstacles for green transformation. Liu Yang, Chief Representative of the China Office of the International Chamber of Shipping and a member of the Hong Kong Maritime Port Development Council, stated that Hong Kong revised its regulations last year to expand the use of marine fuel from traditional fuels to green fuels such as liquefied natural gas and methanol, achieving legal relaxation; The Hong Kong Marine Department has launched the "Green Concession Scheme", which uses financial incentives as a lever to provide fee reductions for Hong Kong registered ships that meet standards, reflecting a keen perception and active cooperation with industry demand. The core idea of Hong Kong's green transformation is the benign cooperation between the government and the industry: the government first listens to the voices of the industry, and then provides guarantees through building platforms and improving supporting measures, while the industry responds in advance and ultimately promotes sustainable development of the industry. ”Liu Yang said that the Special Administrative Region government not only proactively frees up specific land to recruit enterprises to build various fuel storage facilities, but also provides full process support for the transportation, refueling, and trade of new energy from policy guidance, regulatory optimization, tax incentives, and other dimensions. Giles Ryan, a senior executive at Clarkson UK, stated that Hong Kong, as a core fuel supply area with high shipping volume, strong demand, and a complete industrial chain, is transforming its low-carbon transformation potential into practical driving force through the implementation of green infrastructure. Industry participants emphasized that the global nature of the shipping industry determines that its decarbonization process must break down regional barriers and achieve global synergy. Hong Kong is building a cooperative network of internal and external linkage with an open attitude, contributing to the decarbonization of the shipping industry through regional coordination, mainland linkage, international cooperation, and rule coordination. In April 2024, Maersk conducted China's first large-scale methanol fuel powered container ship "ship to ship" refueling at Yangshan Port. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam recently announced that Hong Kong has established "partner port" relationships with mainland China's Guangxi and Dalian, as well as Chile's San Antonio Port. Chen Meibao believes that Hong Kong needs to complement and collaborate with other ports in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, such as linking with Shenzhen Yantian Port to connect with inland goods such as Chengdu and Chongqing. Yantian Port focuses on European and American routes, while Hong Kong focuses on regional routes such as Southeast Asia. Martin Kroger stated that Hong Kong's financial advantages can build a "production financing application" chain with mainland alternative fuel production capacity, and connect to a broader international market through its gateway role. Xie Kapan Kannan expects Hong Kong to play the role of an international shipping center, leading the formulation of regulations and commercial mediation, and promoting industry cooperation from consensus to action. In the process of global rule coordination, facing the risk of regional rule conflicts such as multiple overlapping emission regulatory systems and differences in national carbon tax mechanisms, Sheng Gaowei, CEO of SeaQuest Ship Management Company, emphasized that dialogue, cooperation, and trust are the key to resolving differences. He expects Hong Kong to leverage its geographical advantages and development positioning to promote the participation of upstream and downstream entities in the industry chain, such as international organizations, multinational institutions, and international shipping companies, in global emissions reduction actions, and to convey certainty in the global cooperation of green shipping transformation, contributing to Hong Kong's strength. (New Society)