The government announced appointments on Friday to the new Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board for a three-year term effective on July 1.

Executive Councillor Moses Cheng will serve as chairman.

Among the appointed members are the former president of the Baltic and International Maritime Council Sabrina Chao; a member of the social development expert group of the Chief Executive's Policy Unit Edward Liu; Hong Kong Baptist University professor Billy Mak; Orient Overseas chief financial officer Alan Tung; and transport-sector lawmaker Frankie Yick.

Other members include Angad Banga, Bjorn Hojgaard, Wellington Koo and Timothy Lee.

The board has been set up to assist the government in formulating maritime policies and strategies and will get funding and dedicated staff.

Its key focus will be enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international maritime centre, which is recognised as crucial for the region's economic development.

In saying that, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said in a statement that enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international maritime centre is the government's top priority.

"The establishment of the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board is a key step in this institutional reform," she said.

"It is hoped that the new board will adopt an innovative and change-embracing spirit in supporting the government to lead the maritime and port industry to further leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages and enhance the industry's global competitiveness in the midst of geopolitical challenges."

The board will operate through four panels that also includes industry stakeholders: the port development committee, the maritime services development committee, the promotion and external relations committee and the manpower development committee.