FORMER chairman of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association and currently president of the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), Sabrina Chao, says the city's maritime industry will continue to thrive under the territory's "one country, two systems" principle.

The comment was contained in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government's official commemorative book to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, reports Xinhua.

Ms Chao said that "under the 'one country, two systems' principle, Hong Kong retains the common law system, and the legal commonality is one of the pros that enables Hong Kong's maritime industry to thrive".

She said that Hong Kong had the wealth of knowledge and experience in the realm of shipping. Ms Chao called for "combining the mainland's manpower resources with the experience of Hong Kong shipowners for new measures that tie in with the development of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and also for the benefit of the long-term development of the industry".

She believes that with Hong Kong's vast experience, the maritime industry can offer great ideas and suggestions, and collaborate with the GBA in promoting environmental protection and related research and development.

Ms Chao, who's been in the shipping industry since 2011 and joined the family business Wah Kwong Maritime Transport Holdings Limited in 2022, said Hong Kong's status as an international maritime centre is already shipshape, but said that she had higher ambitions. The biggest challenge that laid ahead was "green shipping".

Ms Chao said she's pleased that the HKSAR government has stepped up efforts in promoting the development of the maritime industry in recent years. "Coupled with the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), which expressly supports Hong Kong in enhancing its status as an international transportation centre, it is believed that new policies and measures are in the pipeline to help fuel the development of the maritime sector."