China’s Belt and Road policy could be the biggest thing for shipping between Asia and Europe since Marco Polo, according to experts at a London briefing.

But many unanswered questions surround the modern maritime Silk Road mega-­project.

Hong Kong transport secretary Frank Chan said the 9,000-kilometre (5,600-mile) route — which embraces 60 countries with 60% of the world’s population, currently representing 21% of global gross domestic product (GDP) — could prove a huge boon.