The event
was graced by Guest of Honour, Ms Mabel Chan, Hong Kong Secretary for Transport
and Logistics. Other distinguished guests included Mr. Chan Tsz Tat,
Commissioner of Customs & Excise; The Honourable Captain Lothair Lam,
Legislative Council Member (Transport Functional Constituency); and Captain
Victor Liu, Director General of Civil Aviation. The gala drew a full house of
nearly 800 members and guests, underscoring HAFFA’s pivotal role in shaping
Hong Kong’s freight forwarding and logistics sector over the past six decades. Innovation,
success and recognition
Serving at
the helm of HAFFA for three consecutive terms, Chairman Mr. Gary Lau outlined
just some of association’s many achievements over the last decade, and its
success in innovating while simultaneously protecting and enhancing the
industry.
Nurturing a
close relationship with government has proved crucial on multiple fronts, most
recently when HAFFA’s long-time advocacy for the promotion of digitization formed
the foundation of the “Trade Single Window”. Likewise, as a strategic advisor
for the “Port Community System”, HAFFA continues to work with stakeholders to
transform Hong Kong into a state-of-the-art smart logistics hub. In addition,
HAFFA facilitated the “IATA Local Financial Criteria and Annual Financial
Review” which was supported by members.
Mr. Lau
reiterated HAFFA’s ongoing commitment to driving the industry forward, citing
the success of its “Innovate and Lead – The New Wave Logistics Competition”.
Held last year, the contest attracted 40 secondary school teams which presented
innovative solutions to address logistics pain points. One of the standout
teams went on to win a silver medal at the 51st Geneva Exhibition of
Inventions, earning international recognition.
Active
engagement both at home and abroad saw a fruitful field study to Ezhou and
Wuhan in November 2025, and the signing of Memoranda of Understanding with the
Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Union of Transport and
Logistics Associations. A HAFFA pavilion at the Asian Logistics, Maritime and
Aviation Conference (ALMAC) for the last two years has provided the association
and its members with valuable opportunities to create and strengthen regional
collaborations.
Always at
the ready to robustly protect the industry against both potential and existing
threats, one of the most crucial achievements in HAFFA’s history was the
passing of the transshipment of e-cigarettes “Import and Export (Amendment)
Bill 2023”. Vital to maintaining both the health of the industry and Hong
Kong’s global reputation, HAFFA’s forceful voice and practical solutions
contributed greatly to the successful passing of the bill in just 14 months.
The
association’s ongoing efforts have been widely recognized. HAFFA became the
first logistics association to receive the Hong Kong Customs and Excise
Department Elite Enterprise Partnership Award, earning the awards for two
consecutive years. In addition, HAFFA was appointed to the prestigious World
Customs Organization Regional Private Sector Group – Asia Pacific. Most recently, HAFFA issued a strong protest against soaring cargo
fuel surcharges (CFS), urging the relevant government regulatory authorities to
intervene immediately, investigate these increases, and to reinstate the government-regulated
CFS mechanism, the continuation of which the association has been advocating
since 2016. In his speech, Mr. Lau commented: “On this momentous occasion of HAFFA’s 60th
anniversary, we also face an unprecedented challenge: the highest cargo fuel
surcharge increases in history. While external forces often shape our business
environment, this time the commercial decisions of certain major stakeholders’
risk undermining the very survival of our industry. We are deeply grateful for
the government’s timely support, which has given us breathing space to reflect
and plan for the future. Yet I urge these stakeholders to act with greater
responsibility—listening to the voices across our industry and striving for
solutions that are both fair and sustainable. As the saying goes, “when the
lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.” Our interdependence is undeniable.
Let us remember that our shared goal is clear: to strengthen Hong Kong’s
prosperity, ensure steady growth, and safeguard the stability that allows our
people to live and work in peace.”
In closing,
Mr. Lau reiterated HAFFA’s full support of the National 15th
Five-Year Plan and the HKSAR government, and its commitment to furthering
deeper integration into overall National development while enhancing Hong
Kong’s competitiveness as an international logistics hub.
Background
Over the
last six decades, HAFFA has played an increasingly important role in the
development and protection of an industry which today stands as one of the four
pillars of the Hong Kong economy. Formed in 1966, HAFFA worked tirelessly to
build an organized and efficient logistics ecosystem which enabled both Hong
Kong-based companies and their international partners to fully capitalize on
the opportunities of global trade.
For decades,
Hong Kong has continued to burnish its reputation as a premier global logistics
hub, its resilience, agility and innovation, combined with the fulsome support
of the government, earning trust worldwide. As it enters its seventh decade,
HAFFA will continue its work in raising industry and professional standards by
providing a broad range of educational resources, and safeguarding the future
of Hong Kong’s prized logistics industry. |