Hong Kong is committed to becoming an international center for cold chain trade, as the city is equipped with the largest number of refrigerated container plugs in the region and is primed to build logistics corridors between South China and South America, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday.

Addressing the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport International Convention, Lee outlined four corridors as part of Hong Kong’s masterplan to advance the logistics sector -- an initiative also highlighted in the city’s inaugural five-year plan unveiled last Wednesday.

Emphasizing the special administrative region’s strategic location at the heart of Asia and as the southern gateway to the Chinese mainland, Lee praised the city’s comprehensive and multimodal system, noting that few places can match its world-class infrastructure and extensive aviation and shipping networks.

“To take just one example, Hong Kong International Airport has been named the world's busiest cargo airport 15 times since 2010,” he said.

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Apart from a cold chain corridor, the SAR aims to establish a transshipment corridor to reinforce the city’s status as a key logistics node and actively participate in the national development of a smart and green logistics model, according to the CE. “That means water-to-water transshipment powered by electric, autonomous ships. It also means better land freight links to the Chinese mainland.”

The corridor also applies to aviation as Hong Kong continues to expand its air freight connectivity, with new routes to Central Asia as a new example, he added.

Meanwhile, the SAR is determined to develop a green energy corridor connecting to green maritime-fuel production bases on the mainland, securing a stable supply for bunkering and trading whiling strengthening its port's green credentials. “Hong Kong is the world's seventh-largest bunkering hub. Since 2025, we have bunkered over 330,000 tonnes of green maritime fuel,” Lee noted.

Hong Kong will also enhance its digital logistics corridor, which was built through its port community system, to attract cargo to route through the city and open up trade-financing opportunities. “To date, more than 8,000 enterprises have registered,” he said, expressing confidence that the number will keep growing and the benefits will be more visible.

Referring to the convention’s theme "Global Corridors, Collaboration Excellence", the CE stressed no logistics hub succeeds alone, emphasizing Hong Kong welcomes cooperation with “friends near and far, East and West”.

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“We want you to see how our expanding collaboration is making the (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao) Greater Bay Area one of the world's most economically vibrant regions -- the future for transport and logistics,” he concluded.