Hong Kong to establish maritime college, launch new industry-academia talent model
Hong Kong plans to set up a maritime college with a new industry-academia collaboration model, expand maritime education in schools, and develop C919 training courses with Comac. The transport and logistics secretary announced the measures under this year's policy address.
Hong Kong's Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mable Chan, has announced plans to establish a Hong Kong Maritime College under a new "industry-academia collaboration" talent training model, as outlined in this year's policy address. The initiative will involve partnerships with leading maritime academic institutions and global shipping enterprises, aiming to create cross-sector career development paths and attract young talent to the industry, thereby strengthening Hong Kong's position as an international shipping hub.
Writing on social media, Chan said the government is also taking maritime and logistics industry information into schools. In March 2025, the government launched a "school-based logistics curriculum", and in October 2026 it expanded into the maritime field with a "Maritime Professional Education Resource Centre" to deepen primary and secondary school students' understanding of the modern logistics and shipping industries.
Chan also addressed aviation talent training. She noted that the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy will enter its tenth academic year in 2026/27. Since its launch in April 2017 until August 2026, more than 450,000 participants have taken professional training courses covering airport management, security and aviation services.
The academy is working with China's Commercial Aircraft Corporation (Comac) and relevant maintenance organisations to develop professional courses for the C919 domestic aircraft, covering flight, maintenance and aviation management. These courses are intended to support the global rollout of the C919. Around 40 local maintenance technicians are already qualified to service the C919 aircraft.
The government established the Maritime and Aviation Training Fund in 2014, with total commitments reaching HK$500 million after years of injections. As of September 2026, the fund had benefited more than 24,000 students and in-service workers, and attracted over 140,000 participants to various industry promotional activities.