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Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, at the Dragonair Hanoi Inaugural Gala Dinner in Hanoi, Vietnam today (December 16, Vietnam time):
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening.
It is my great pleasure to join you tonight in celebrating Dragonair's new service between Hanoi and Hong Kong.
I congratulate Dragonair on the successful launch of this service and on taking this opportunity to improve travel links between Vietnam and Hong Kong.
The new passenger service was launched on October 26 with one flight a day in each direction. I am looking forward to trying it out when I return home tomorrow.
Hanoi is the eighth new destination for Dragonair since it became part of the Cathay Pacific Group in 2006.
As well as expanding its services, Dragonair has also maintained the high standard of service that we have come to expect from a Hong Kong-based airline.
For each of the past six years, Dragonair has been voted the Best Airline - China, in the Skytrax passenger survey. The same survey has ranked Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) as the best in the world again this year, the seventh time in 10 years that we have received the accolade.
Dragonair and HKIA do, indeed, make a good winning team.
Vietnam is an important business partner to both Hong Kong and the Mainland. Last year, bilateral trade between Hong Kong and Vietnam topped US$3 billion. In the first nine months of this year, there was a 25% increase in trade between us compared to the same period last year.
Also in 2007, about US$1.7 billion in trade between Vietnam and the Mainland was routed through Hong Kong, or about 11% of total trade between the two countries.
I am confident that this new service will add an extra dimension to relationship-building between our two cities and between our two countries. Hong Kong's proximity to the Mainland and Hong Kong's central location in East Asia make us ideally suited for meetings, incentive travel, conventions and exhibitions, or what is better know as MICE travel. Travellers can also connect easily to major markets including Australia, the US and North Asia.
Of course, we also welcome more Vietnamese tourists to take advantage of this service. You can always be sure of a warm welcome in Hong Kong. Now that we are a Michelin town, you can certainly try out one of our Michelin starred restaurants as the first Michelin Guide on Hong Kong and Macao was unveiled earlier this month.
The wide range of cuisines in Hong Kong reflects our city's cosmopolitan character. People from all over the world, including Vietnam, live and work in Hong Kong and contribute to a rich cultural blend of East and West. Hong Kong is also one of the safest cities in the world, so when you come to visit, bring your family and friends along too.
Once again, congratulations to Dragonair on launching its daily passenger service to Hanoi.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas, a prosperous New Year, and happy flying.
Thank you.
Ends/Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Issued at HKT 20:45
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