InvestHK Promotes Hong Kong as Asia's Premier Maritime and Logistics Hub During HK Maritime Week 2024

InvestHK promotes Hong Kong's advantages and opportunities in maritime and logistics industry during Hong Kong Maritime Week 2024

Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today (November 22) that it has fully leveraged on Hong Kong Maritime Week 2024 (HKMW2024), organised by the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board, to promote Hong Kong as a premier logistics and maritime hub in Asia and its advantages as a multinational supply chain management centre.

Speaking at the events during HKMW2024, the Head of Transport& Logistics and Industrials at InvestHK, Mr Benjamin Wong, said, "Hong Kong ranked fourth in the world as an international maritime centre in the latest International Shipping Centre Development Index Report, with more than 900 maritime companies in the city. It has a decades-long strength in foreign trade, high-quality professional services, an excellent port, airport, and other infrastructures and reliable trade financing options that position the city as a multinational supply chain management centre."

He added, "Hong Kong offers various tax concessions for qualifying ship agents, ship managers and ship brokers to facilitate their ownership and operation in Hong Kong, fostering the development of shipping commercial principals in the city. Together with its status as an international maritime legal and arbitration centre, as well as its strategic location in the heart of Asia and simple and low tax regime, the city is the perfect platform for shipping and logistic companies to expand into Mainland China and Asia."

As an organising partner of the HKMW2024, InvestHK has supported various events during the week, including the Hong Kong Global Maritime Trade Summit, the Opening Ceremony of HKMW2024 and World Maritime Merchants Forum (WMMF), WMMF Main and Thematic Forums, the Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference, the Xinde Marine Forum Hong Kong, the Captain's Table Live Final, the Workshop of Green Ammonia Bunkering for Ocean Going Vessel Stakeholders and many more to promote Hong Kong's strengths as an aviation and logistics hub.

For photos, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720322094724.

InvestHK promotes Hong Kong's advantages and opportunities in maritime and logistics industry during Hong Kong Maritime Week 2024 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

InvestHK promotes Hong Kong's advantages and opportunities in maritime and logistics industry during Hong Kong Maritime Week 2024 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

InvestHK promotes Hong Kong's advantages and opportunities in maritime and logistics industry during Hong Kong Maritime Week 2024 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two property owners fined over $260,000 for not complying with removal order and repair order

Two property owners were convicted and fined over $260,000 at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts last month and this month for failing to comply with a removal order and a repair order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).

The case involved the alteration of four units into mini-storages in an industrial building on Kin Wing Lane, Tuen Mun. As the alteration and addition works were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), and they obstructed the means of escape and means of access for fire fighting and rescue as well as affecting the fire resisting construction of the buildings, contravening the Building (Planning) Regulations and the Building (Construction) Regulation, a removal order and a repair order were served on both of the two owners under section 24(1) and section 26 of the BO.

Failing to comply with the removal order and the repair order, the two owners were prosecuted by the BD and were fined $261,560 in total, of which $101,560 was the fine for the number of days that the offences continued, upon conviction at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts on October 25 and November 8 respectively.

A spokesman for the BD today (November 22) said, "Unauthorised alteration works causing obstruction to the means of escape and means of access for fire fighting and rescue, or affecting the fire resisting construction of a building may lead to serious consequences. The owners concerned must comply with removal orders and repair orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement actions against owners who fail to comply with removal orders and repair orders, including instigation of prosecution, to ensure building safety."

Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year's imprisonment, and a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence continues. Moreover, failure to comply with a repair order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of level 5 ($50,000 at present) and one year's imprisonment, and a further fine of $5,000 for each day that the offence continues.