On December 11, the launching ceremony of the Hong Kong Shipping Registry Regional Desk in Dubai was successfully held. The event was attended by over 50 distinguished guests, including H.E.Ms. Ou Boqian, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Dubai and Northern Emirates, Mr. WONG Sai Fat, Director of Marine of Hong Kong, Mr. Simon CHAN, Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai, as well as representatives from local shipping companies.

In her address, Ms. Ou Boqian expressed deep condolences for the victims of the recent fire incident at Hong Kong’s Tai Po Wang Fuk Court, and extended sincere sympathies to the injured and their families.

Ms. Ou Boqian emphasized that Hong Kong, as an international maritime hub, enjoys a global reputation for its shipping registry services. The establishment of the Dubai desk will further strengthen the maritime ties between China and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the wider region. It will inject new momentum into the development of the regional shipping industry and enhance maritime connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative.

This desk marks the eighth overseas branch of the Hong Kong Shipping Registry and the first in the Middle East, representing a significant step in Hong Kong's expansion into the global market as an international maritime center.