ENG-2013 — Page 274

13

Transport

Hong Kong Port Development Council

In Hong Kong, all container terminal facilities are financed, developed, owned and operated by the private sector. The government's role is to undertake long-term strategic planning for port facilities and to provide the necessary supporting infrastructure, such as roads and channels to the terminals.

The Hong Kong Port Development Council, chaired by the Secretary for Transport and Housing and comprising industry representatives and senior government officials, advises the government on port development strategies and facility planning to meet future demands. It also assists the government in promoting Hong Kong as a regional hub port and a leading world container port.

Hong Kong Maritime Industry Council

The Hong Kong Maritime Industry Council (MIC), chaired by the Secretary for Transport and Housing and comprising industry leaders and senior government officials, advises the government on measures and initiatives to develop further Hong Kong's maritime industry. It also assists the government in promoting Hong Kong's maritime services and its status as an international maritime centre. In 2013, the MIC continued to finance various incentive and scholarship schemes to assist manpower development for the industry at both technical and professional levels, including scholarships for students of selected post-graduate programmes in maritime services and maritime law.

Maritime Industry

About 80 international shipping lines offer ocean liner services in Hong Kong, with around 380 sailings weekly connecting to about 550 destinations worldwide. In addition, there are over 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's ship owners control 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 made such arrangements with 37 tax administrations: Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Chile, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Guernsey, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the mainland of China, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand,

222