Last night’s 53rd Hong Kong Shipowners Association Annual General Meeting saw Kenneth Koo of Tai Chong Cheang Steamship elected to succeed Anglo-Eastern’s Peter Cremers as chairman of the association. Mr Koo had served as vice chairman of the body for the past two years. Alan Tung, from Island Navigation, has taken this role. Mr Tung, son of Hong Kong's first post-colonial chief executive, is tipped to head up OOIL, parent of OOCL, in the coming years.
Mr Koo’s father, K H Koo, who passed away in 2005, was one of the most active chairmen of the association in recent years. His tenure saw many overtures to mainland Chinese owners, something his son is keen to further as he outlined in his acceptance speech last night. 'As Hong Kong heads into the second decade of reunification with China, your Association will work harder to strengthen our friendship and partnership with China’s maritime industry,' Kenneth Koo said. 'We have with us, as a very integral part of our HK shipping industry, our Hong Kong-based PRC shipowners who not only represent a pillar of strength supporting both the HKSAR Registry and maritime industry but also a unique channel that will further enhance Hong Kong shipowners’ traditional close ties with the Mainland Chinese maritime industry. Through this, Hong Kong and China jointly establish a partnership in endeavors that will further enhance China’s leadership and position as both a world economic and maritime power while Hong Kong’s ongoing evolution as a premier international maritime center will go to another level of excellence.'
Mr Koo’s father, K H Koo, who passed away in 2005, was one of the most active chairmen of the association in recent years. His tenure saw many overtures to mainland Chinese owners, something his son is keen to further as he outlined in his acceptance speech last night. 'As Hong Kong heads into the second decade of reunification with China, your Association will work harder to strengthen our friendship and partnership with China’s maritime industry,' Kenneth Koo said. 'We have with us, as a very integral part of our HK shipping industry, our Hong Kong-based PRC shipowners who not only represent a pillar of strength supporting both the HKSAR Registry and maritime industry but also a unique channel that will further enhance Hong Kong shipowners’ traditional close ties with the Mainland Chinese maritime industry. Through this, Hong Kong and China jointly establish a partnership in endeavors that will further enhance China’s leadership and position as both a world economic and maritime power while Hong Kong’s ongoing evolution as a premier international maritime center will go to another level of excellence.'