264 Transport
week-long activities included celebratory events, seminars for maritime professionals, career talks at academic institutions, an open day at the Government Dockyard, etc.
Maritime Industry
Some 80 international shipping lines offer ocean liner services in Hong Kong, with about 400 sailings weekly to some 480 destinations around the world. In addition, there are about 700 shipping-related companies operating in Hong Kong, providing a great variety of quality maritime services, ranging from ship agency and management, ship owning and operation, ship broking, marine insurance to inland water transport. Other related services such as ship registration, ship finance, and maritime law and arbitration are also available. Hong Kong is one of the world's largest maritime centres. Its ship owners own, manage or operate about 9 per cent of the world's merchant fleet in terms of deadweight tonnage.
Some of the world's largest and oldest shipping companies are based in Hong Kong providing professional services not only to Hong Kong-registered ships but also to ships calling at Hong Kong. Other international maritime service providers have also set up offices in Hong Kong, providing various supplies and support services including ship maintenance and repair, bunkering, ship replenishment, waste disposal, information technology and communication services, auditing and tax advisory, and training services. The maritime sector contributes significantly to Hong Kong's economy and the job market.
Hong Kong is proactive in negotiating double taxation relief arrangements covering shipping income with its trading partners. It has so far succeeded in making such arrangements with 26 tax administrations, including the Mainland, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.
Port Administration
The Marine Department administers the port. Its principal task is to ensure safety of navigation and efficiency of shipping activities in Hong Kong waters. This is achieved through comprehensive traffic management, harbour patrols, vessel traffic services, provision of mooring buoys and strict enforcement of rules and standards of the major international maritime conventions.
The department liaises closely with shipping and commercial organisations through a number of advisory and consultative committees. Through these channels, users and operators of port facilities can advise the Government on port administration matters. The Port Operations Committee advises on all matters related to efficient operation of the port, the Pilotage Advisory Committee on pilotage services, and the Port Area Security Advisory Committee on port security.
In addition, the Local Vessels Advisory Committee deals with matters related to local vessels, while the Shipping Consultative Committee advises on the operation of
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