Hong Kong outlines measures to support river trade vessels and green transition
Hong Kong's transport chief detailed support for river trade vessels, including multi-trip permits and fee reviews, while highlighting green shipping initiatives and the planned Smart Green Industrial Port in Tuen Mun. The government is also in talks with mainland authorities to accelerate the green
Hong Kong's Secretary for Transport and Logistics has outlined the government's measures to support river trade vessels (内河船) and their transition towards greener operations, in a legislative council reply on 4 November 2026.
The official noted that Hong Kong ranked fourth globally in the 2026 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index. To bolster the city's position, the government is advancing the Maritime and Port Development Strategy Action Plan, the First Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), and measures from the 2026 Policy Address, including smart and green port development and deeper collaboration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Regarding incentives, the Marine Department has since 2007 offered a multi-trip entry permit scheme, allowing vessels to pay for five single-trip permits but make up to ten visits in a month. The government has also completed a preliminary review of permit fees for river trade vessels, as proposed in the Action Plan, and is discussing details with relevant departments, to be announced in due course.
On compulsory pilotage, the official stated that under the Pilotage Ordinance, vessels of 3,000 gross tonnes or more, those of 1,000 gross tonnes or more carrying dangerous goods, and gas carriers of any tonnage must use licensed pilots in Hong Kong waters. Over the past three years (2023-2025), there were 130,404 such visits, mostly container ships between 10,000 and 50,000 gross tonnes.
For green transition, the government noted industry progress, including the launch in October 2026 of the GBA's first zero-carbon river shipping route using a smart electric container vessel. The First Five-Year Plan includes fostering a smart, green logistics model for 'water-to-water transshipment' to support autonomous vessels in the GBA. The government is working with industry to accelerate the smart and green upgrade of river vessels and revitalise the river trade network.
Regarding the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal, the government said it is a private facility for consolidating cargo from the Pearl River Delta. The Development Bureau's August 2025 public consultation proposed creating about 300 hectares of land at Lung Kwu Tan/Tuen Mun West for the Smart Green Industrial Port, including retaining about 35 hectares of the terminal's 65 hectares for modern logistics and river trade use. The bureau is refining the proposal based on feedback and will proceed with statutory procedures after detailed engineering and technical assessments.