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Hong Kong International Maritime Center: Sailing with the Wind, Looking Far Ahead

In the article, the Chief Executive specifically emphasized that "Hong Kong's status as an international maritime center is reflected in its comprehensive value," responding to earlier concerns about the decline in Hong Kong's container throughput. In fact, as an all-encompassing mature maritime industry cluster, container throughput is no longer the sole criterion for measuring the development of Hong Kong's maritime industry. The continued top rankings of Hong Kong in global maritime centers also effectively reflect the comprehensive strength of the maritime sector in Hong Kong. As a member of the Hong Kong Maritime Port Authority delegation, the author is currently accompanying the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Lin Shixiong, on a visit to Tokyo, Japan, to promote Hong Kong's advantages as an international shipping and logistics hub. As Secretary Lin introduced in meetings with Japanese companies, the composition of this delegation highlights the advantages of Hong Kong's vast maritime cluster, with members representing authorities in ship ownership, ship management, port operations, maritime financing, maritime insurance, and maritime law. During meetings with various Japanese companies and maritime industry organizations, the author sensed a strong preference for Hong Kong's high-value maritime services, and the Special Administrative Region government's recent maritime industry investment attraction incentives were particularly well-received. These facts undoubtedly showcase the strong vitality and enormous developmental potential of Hong Kong as an international maritime center, "backed by the motherland and connected to the world."