The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today expressed its strong opposition to and grave dissatisfaction towards US authorities’ imposition of port fees on vessels owned, operated, or built by Chinese companies, and other associated measures.
In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government outlined that under the unique institutional strengths of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong – as a globally renowned international maritime centre – has long provided an open, level, efficient, and well-regulated business environment for shipping enterprises around the world to operate in.
It iterated that the US measures are blatantly discriminatory, deliberately divide the international maritime community, and undermine the spirit of solidarity and co-operation built over many years, adding that such actions fall short of the basic standards of international conduct.
Describing the actions by the US as bullying, the Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that Hong Kong will continue to uphold the spirit of openness and co-operation, work with global maritime partners to safeguard free trade principles and promote the healthy development of the international shipping industry.
Only by adhering to the principles of fairness, justice, mutual benefits and win-win co-operation can the common interests of the global maritime community be truly protected, it added.
