Hong Kong: Hong Kong is in the midst of an incredibly busy couple of weeks of events, a series of shipping gatherings not seen in the Special Administrative Region for years.
The SAR is half way through its annual Maritime Awareness Week and there are countless social meetings going on at the moment, one of the highlights being Thursday night’s Mission To Seafarers charity dinner. Next week kicks off with the Mare Forum in town for a conference on iron ore and coal. Meanwhile, the embattled leader of the SAR, CY Leung, is expected to open the annual big government backed two-day Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference starting November 18. The following day sees a stellar line up of panellists and participants flock to the Foreign Correspondents’ Club for the latest SinoShip Dry Bulk Business Breakfast, sponsored by Rightship and DVB Bank. Confirmed speakers include TCC Group’s Kenneth Koo and Dr Martin Stopford from Clarksons. On November 20 and 21, meanwhile, UBM brings its Cruise Asia-Pacific conference and exhibition to Hong Kong.
On top of that various big names in town as well as a couple of P&I Clubs are all organizing cocktail receptions in the coming days while another must-attend event is the Hong Kong Shipowners Association (HKSOA) annual general meeting and cocktails on November 20.
“Hong Kong is buzzing,” HKSOA managing director, Arthur Bowring, told SinoShip News.
Other events include a seminar on risk management, an annual ball held by the Hong Kong Institute of Marine Technology, a yachting race sponsored by the HKSOA and the official opening by the China Maritime Arbitration Commission of its first international arbitration centre.
“I think what this shows is that Hong Kong is vibrant, not just for these particular weeks, but we have an increasing number of companies setting up here and an increasing amount of business being done here, and the vibrancy continues throughout the year,” Bowring added. [13/11/14]
