Flag

Registry reaches around the world

Hong Kong can be proud of its flag’s global reputation

The Hong Kong flag remains the fourth largest in the world and continues to grow both in terms of size and geographic reach.

The total gross tonnage of ships registered with the Hong Kong Shipping Registry (HKSR) stands in excess of 131m gt.

In recent years the Marine Department, which oversees the flag, has established regional desks around the world - something that came into particular use during the pandemic and the severe restrictions Hong Kongers

“The registry has offices in London, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, San Francisco, Tokyo, and Toronto”

faced in terms of overseas travel. Today, the flag has offices in London, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, San Francisco, Tokyo, and Toronto.

Apart from technical support, the overseas posts also help in promotional campaigns. In order to uphold the quality of the Hong Kong fleet, the foreign offices are also tasked to conduct free flag state quality audits on Hong Kongregistered ships.

Administratively, the shipping register has streamlined its work processes with regard to the issuance of exemptions and dispensations and continues to explore the use of digital technology. In July this year it launched an online one-stop shop where owners can get most ship registrations and certifications in one single online form, as well as fixing online payments and giving customers a fee calculator for ship registration fees and annual tonnage charges. Officials at the registry are proud of

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its white list status and the continued safety record of the flag.

For last year, the detention rate of Hong Kong-flagged ships under the Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding was 1.2%, significantly below the regional average detention rate of 2.3%; and the three-year rolling detention rate of Hong Kong ships under the US Coast Guard’s Qualship 21 stands at 0.67%, better than the average detention rate of 0.87%.