***********************************************************
The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) is hosting a regional seminar on the preparation, conduct and reporting of an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) safety oversight audit in Hong Kong from today (July 14) to July 16.
The objective of the three-day seminar is to familiarise participants with the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) including the process, methodology and tools so that they can assist their civil aviation administrations throughout the various phases of the audit process.
The USOAP was launched by the ICAO in 1999 to promote global aviation safety through auditing Contracting States on a regular basis.
"In preparation for the ICAO safety oversight audit in Hong Kong to be conducted in March 2009, the CAD established a USOAP Working Group in 2004 to start preparation for the audit," the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr Norman Lo, said at today¡¦s opening session.
"The hosting of this seminar in Hong Kong will provide the department as well as our industry partners with an invaluable opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge from the ICAO experts in safety oversight audits.
"With the active participation of delegates and the excellent guidance from the ICAO facilitators, I am confident that the seminar will be a highly useful forum for sharing valuable experience in improving the safety oversight of their respective air transport systems," Mr Lo said.
More than 120 delegates, including those from the civil aviation administrations of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Japan, Korea, Macau, Mongolia, Singapore, Thailand and Vanuatu, attended the seminar.
Ends/Monday, July 14, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:01
NNNN
