PolyU scholars propose policy recommendations to advance shipping ecosystem in Hong Kong with support from Strategic Public Policy Research Funding Scheme

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to promoting research excellence to address societal challenges and opportunities by providing strategic insights. In response to intensifying competition in the global shipping market, PolyU scholars have conducted a comprehensive study of Hong Kong’s shipping ecosystem and developed policy recommendations aimed at fostering collaborative efforts to enhance the shipping ecosystem within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). This project aligns with the long-term initiatives outlined in the 2024 Chief Executive Policy Address and has been supported under the Strategic Public Policy Research Funding Scheme (SPPRFS) 2024/25 of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit of the HKSAR Government. This year, only two out of 37 applications received funding.

Led by Prof. Mike LAI Kee-hung, Associate Dean (Academic Support) of the PolyU’s Faculty of Business, Chair Professor of Shipping and Logistics, and Interim Head of the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, the project “Policy Recommendations on Uplifting Hong Kong’s Status as an International Shipping Centre through Development Opportunities in the Greater Bay Area” has received more than HK$2 million funding support from SPPRFS 2024/25. The project adopts an ecosystem perspective to examine the local shipping industry. It analyses the components, development trends, industry interactions and adaptability of Hong Kong’s shipping industry to external changes, with the aim of identifying potential opportunities, particularly those brought about by the ongoing development of GBA, to enhance the City’s status as an international shipping centre.

The project identifies benchmark characteristics of the shipping ecosystem and assesses how the interaction between the shipping industry’s related sectors fostering value creation and sustainable development. It also provides policy recommendations to leverage Hong Kong’s unique strengths and opportunities. Integrating quantitative analysis with qualitative case studies, industry survey, and expert interviews, the research draws on professional insights from the fields of shipping economics, policy studies and regional development.

Prof. Lai said, “This project aims to provide substantial policy recommendations to enhance Hong Kong’s competitive edge in the global shipping landscape. By fostering collaboration with GBA stakeholders and focusing on core areas such as sustainability and technology adoption, we expect the research outcomes to positively impact Hong Kong’s economy and society while also offering valuable insights for other shipping hubs.”

The SPPRFS is aimed at encouraging local think-tank experts and scholars (including those from universities and civil society think-tanks) to apply their expertise to conducting evidence-based research on key public policy issues and to facilitating the knowledge transfer of research findings to policy considerations, serving as a channel for the HKSAR Government to tap society’s public policy research expertise.

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