7 December 2017

A Greater Bay Area Symposium on Logistics and Trade Facilitation, jointly organised by the Policy Research Institute of Global Supply Chain of HSMC and the Asian Institute of Supply Chains & Logistics of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), was held on 7 December 2017 at Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers.  The symposium brought together more than 250 government officials, business leaders, industry experts, professionals and academics to share insights and address concerns of integration and development prospects related to logistics and trading in the Greater Bay Area.

Dr Collin Wong, Head of HSMC’s Department of Supply Chain and Information Management (SCM), was host of the symposium. Professor Simon S M Ho, President of HSMC; Dr Moses Cheng Mo-chi, Chairperson of HSMC’s College Council; and Dr David Wong Yau-kar, Honorary President of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao-Bay Area Economic and Trade Association welcomed all participants in their remarks while Mr Andy Chan Shui-fu, Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, delivered the opening speech.

President Ho emphasised in his remarks that the study on logistics and trade facilitation was only part of the Greater Bay Area policy research, and HSMC would continue to undertake further study on important topics and provide policy suggestions. He expressed sincere gratitude to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao-Bay Area Economic and Trade Association for their donation support to this policy research.

Dr Stephen Ng, Director of HSMC Policy Research Institute of Global Supply Chain, presented the findings of a report titled “Logistics and Trade Facilitation in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Bay Area: Stakeholders Concerns, Comments from Central Government, and Policy Recommendations”.

Two keynote speakers, Mr Wilson Fung Wing-yip, Executive Director of Corporate Development of Hong Kong Airport Authority and Dr Li Yubin, Deputy General Manager of China Merchants Port Holdings Company Limited, shared their views on the challenges and opportunities faced by Hong Kong International Airport and local ports respectively under the Greater Bay Area Initiative.

Professor Cheung Waiman, Director of CUHK’s Asian Institute of Supply Chains & Logistics, hosted a panel discussion with six industry experts: Dr Edward Kwok Man Chan, Executive Committee Members of The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong and the Founder of German Pool (Hong Kong) Ltd; Mr Sunny Ho, Executive Director of The Hong Kong Shippers’ Council; Mrs Jenny Lam, Chief Executive Officer of Cathay Pacific Services Ltd; Mr Horace Lo, Chief Development Officer of Modern Terminals Limited; Dr Venus Lun, Vice President of Hong Kong Institution of Transportation and Logistics Management; and Ir Elsa Yuen, President of the Hong Kong Logistics Association. The Panel explored the development prospects of the trading and logistics sector, and exchanged views with participants on how Hong Kong should gear up for the Greater Bay Area development.

Lastly, Professor Lawrence C Leung, Dean of the School of Decision Sciences of HSMC, concluded the symposium and expressed appreciation to all speakers, panelists and participants for sharing their experiences and insights. He emphasised that more study had to be conducted further to the discussion at the event while symposiums on important topics of the Greater Bay Area such as cross-border logistics, e-commerce, insurance and big data would be hosted in future.