HONG Kong's Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, says the government will do all it can to maintan the territory as a "leading logistics hub and international maritime centre".

Speaking at the opening of the seventh Asia Logistics and Maritime Conference in Hong Kong, Mrs Lam pointed out that the trading and logistics industry is one of the four top pillar industries of Hong Kong, contributing about 22 per cent of our gross domestic product and 20 per cent of our employment.

"It is logistics - the power of linking economies and industries, people, products and services - that will help us realise the connections we need to function and flourish in this era of connectivity."

The Chief Executive said Hong Kong has what it takes to do well in the logistics sector being strategically located at the heart of Asia and being connected to the world and Mainland China by a world-class international airport, a container terminal renowned for its efficiency, and extensive land crossings.

"With our well-developed multi-modal transport network, the logistics industry is highly flexible in moving goods from one corner of the world to another."

Mrs Lam also noted that the booming growth of e-commerce has generated an ever-increasing demand for cross-border logistics and delivery services, in particular air mail and transshipment services.

"To cope with this growth, Hongkong Post is holding discussions with the Airport Authority and other postal authorities on the expansion of the Air Mail Centre at the airport in order to enhance its capacity and operation efficiency."

She also mentioned the fact that DHL recently announced its plan to inject HKD3 billion to expand its Central Asia Hub in Hong Kong in partnership with the Airport Authority. "The expansion will not only bolster the company's operational capacity in Asia Pacific, but also facilitate the rapidly growing international trade demands in the region and around the world."

On Hong Kong Port, Mrs Lam reiterated that the government-established Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board is actively working with the industry to work out a comprehensive strategy to bolster and promote the development of Hong Kong's maritime industry and high value-added maritime services.

"The Government is also actively implementing port enhancement measures to maintain the competitiveness of Hong Kong Port, including provision of additional terminal yard space and barge berths in phases to increase the container handling capacity of the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals and the better use of back-up land of the terminals."