Hong Kong marine insurance faces talent and coordination gaps

Specialist training tech change and cross-service alignment flagged as critical priorities.

Hong Kong’s Insurance Authority said the city needs a more strategic approach to develop its marine insurance sector as global trade patterns continue to shift.

Speaking at the Asian Financial Forum on 26 January 2026, the Insurance Authority hosted a panel titled “Charting Future Seas: Hong Kong’s Maritime Prospects for Insurance”, which brought together insurance and professional services experts to discuss the sector’s outlook.

Clement Lau, Executive Director for Policy and Legislation at the Insurance Authority, said marine insurance plays a key role in supporting Hong Kong’s position as an international financial, shipping and trade centre. 

He said rising complexity in global trade meant the sector needed to adapt to new risks and market conditions.

Panel speakers highlighted three areas seen as critical to the sector’s long-term development. 

These included strengthening talent development to ensure a steady supply of professionals with specialised marine insurance expertise, responding to technological changes in shipping and the wider digitalisation of global supply chains, and improving coordination across Hong Kong’s maritime services to support the marine insurance ecosystem.

Lau said recent policy measures aimed at promoting marine insurance had provided support to the sector, but added that closer cooperation among industry stakeholders would be needed to sustain growth and enhance Hong Kong’s role within the broader national development strategy.