香港海事博物馆馆长简德恆先生就香港特别行政区的「五年规划」谘询提出了建议。

（只有英文）：

​

----

On behalf of the Hong Kong Maritime Museum (HKMM), I would like to thank the HKSAR Government for the opportunity to contribute to the public consultation on the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The consultation document appropriately highlights Hong Kong's unique strengths as an international financial centre, international trade centre, international maritime centre, international aviation hub, and an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. It also recognises the importance of culture, tourism, education, innovation, regional cooperation and high-quality development as drivers of Hong Kong's future prosperity.

 

As one of Hong Kong's leading museums, HKMM would like to offer several observations from its perspective of the intersection between culture, education, tourism and the maritime economy:

 

1. Recognise Maritime Culture as a Strategic Pillar of Hong Kong's Development

 

Hong Kong's extraordinary development from a fishing port into one of the world's foremost shipping, trading and financial centres is fundamentally a maritime story. The values associated with the seafaring spirit, including openness, resilience, innovation, enterprise and global connectivity, have shaped the city for generations and remain highly relevant today.

 

The consultation document appropriately recognises Hong Kong's status as an International Maritime Centre and seeks to strengthen shipping, ports, maritime services, green transformation and maritime competitiveness. However, successful maritime centres are not built solely upon economic activity. They are also supported by strong maritime cultures that foster public understanding, civic pride and international recognition.

 

Every great port city should have a great maritime museum. Most prominent cities around the world all recognise the importance of preserving and celebrating their maritime heritage. Hong Kong should similarly recognise maritime culture as a strategic asset supporting its aspirations for tourism, education, community engagement and city branding.

 

We therefore recommend that maritime culture be explicitly incorporated into the Government's future cultural, educational and tourism planning. Greater support should be provided for maritime heritage conservation, exhibitions, cultural programming, educational initiatives and public engagement projects that strengthen understanding of Hong Kong's maritime identity and contribution to national development.

 

2. Strengthen Hong Kong's Role as China's International Cultural Connector

 

The consultation document repeatedly emphasises Hong Kong's role as a bridge between China and the world, and as an international platform for cultural exchange and cooperation. HKMM believes this role extends naturally to the field of maritime culture.

 

Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to present China's maritime civilisation, trade along the Maritime Silk Road, regional maritime heritage and contemporary maritime achievements to international audiences. Through multilingual interpretation, international-standard exhibitions, educational programming and digital engagement, Hong Kong can help tell China's maritime story to the world while deepening domestic and international cultural exchange.

 

HKMM has already demonstrated this potential through exhibitions connecting Chinese culture, maritime heritage and international audiences. Maritime Miracle (2022) explored Hong Kong's emergence as a major shipping centre in the twentieth century; Across Victoria Harbour (2024) interpreted the vessels, trades and communities that shaped life around the harbour; Voyage into Shu (2025), created with major Mainland cultural partners, used immersive digital interpretation to introduce the Sanxingdui and Jinsha civilisations; and the Marine Arteries: Ma Wan Dragon Boat exhibition (2026) connected maritime heritage, community life and Hong Kong's continuing relationship with the sea. In 2025, HKMM unveiled on the harbourfront at Central  “Anchor Plaza” which showcases the anchor of “Seawise Giant”, a Hong Kong-owned ship that is the largest cargo ship to ever have sailed.  Together, these projects preserve local maritime memory, present Chinese history and culture in engaging ways, support collaboration with Mainland institutions and strengthen Hong Kong's identity as both an international maritime centre and an East-meets-West centre for cultural exchange.

 

To advance this objective, we recommend increased support for partnerships between museums, universities and cultural institutions across Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas. These collaborations could encompass joint exhibitions, shared research projects, educational exchanges, professional development programmes and digital initiatives.

 

Specific attention should also be given to reducing practical barriers to cultural exchange. At present, the temporary movement of cultural artefacts and exhibition materials between Mainland institutions and Hong Kong can involve complex administrative processes that are especially challenging for small and medium-sized museums. We encourage the HKSAR Government to work with relevant Mainland authorities to explore more streamlined arrangements, clearer guidance and dedicated coordination mechanisms for non-commercial cultural loans. Facilitating the movement of cultural objects would substantially increase opportunities for cultural exchange, enable broader access to Chinese heritage and reinforce Hong Kong's role as China's premier international cultural gateway.

 

3. Build a Sustainable and Innovative Museum Ecosystem

 

A vibrant cultural sector requires more than new facilities and major events. It also depends upon the strength and sustainability of the institutions that preserve collections, develop content, educate audiences and engage communities every day.

 

The consultation document recognises the importance of museums, cultural development, innovation, digital transformation and talent cultivation. HKMM believes these elements should be brought together in a comprehensive strategy to strengthen Hong Kong's museum ecosystem.

 

Museum education should be recognised as an important component of Hong Kong's cultural infrastructure. Museums play a vital role in supporting lifelong learning, values education, national education, historical understanding and cultural literacy. Continued investment in educational programming, curriculum-linked resources to connect schools to museum programmes, audience research and community outreach would generate significant long-term public benefits.

 

At the same time, the cultural sector should be supported in embracing emerging technologies. Artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality and digital platforms offer new ways to present history, engage younger audiences and enhance cultural tourism experiences. Investment in digital collections, virtual access, multilingual content and shared cultural platforms would improve accessibility while strengthening Hong Kong's international reach.

 

Talent development is equally important. Structured partnerships between museums, universities and industry organisations could provide internships, mentoring opportunities, applied research projects and professional development pathways for future museum and cultural professionals. Additional support for conservation training and specialist expertise would also help protect Hong Kong's cultural assets and strengthen professional standards across the sector.

 

4. HKMM at the Intersection of Culture and Commerce

 

HKMM occupies a unique position within Hong Kong's cultural landscape. We are one of the few institutions that directly connects the maritime industry with the wider community.

 

The consultation document highlights the importance of developing high-value maritime services and reinforcing Hong Kong's role as an International Maritime Centre. HKMM contributes to these objectives by helping the public understand the role that shipping, ports, logistics, trade and maritime services have played, and continue to play, in Hong Kong's success.

 

The recent exhibitions identified above illustrate how HKMM converts broad cultural and maritime policy objectives into accessible public experiences, combining scholarship, education, community engagement, institutional partnership and new interpretive technologies.

 

Through exhibitions, educational programmes, public events and international partnerships, the Museum serves as a bridge between industry and society, commerce and culture, local communities and international audiences. This role becomes increasingly important as Hong Kong seeks to strengthen its maritime identity, attract visitors, promote cultural tourism and inspire future generations to engage with the maritime sector.

 

Conclusion

 

Hong Kong's future success will continue to depend on its ability to leverage its unique advantages under "One Country, Two Systems", strengthen its international connectivity and deepen its engagement with national development. Maritime culture can make a significant contribution to these objectives.

 

By recognising maritime culture as a strategic asset, strengthening Hong Kong's role as China's international cultural connector, building a sustainable and innovative museum ecosystem, and supporting institutions that bridge culture and commerce, the Government can further enhance Hong Kong's status not only as an International Maritime Centre, but also as a globally recognised maritime cultural city.

 

The Hong Kong Maritime Museum looks forward to continuing to support the Government's efforts in these important areas and would be pleased to contribute further as the Five-Year Plan is developed.