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Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, at a cocktail reception hosted by Cathay Pacific Airways in Boston this evening (May 5, Boston time):
John, Tom, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. Great pleasure to be here in Boston, a city that goes back nearly 400 years with 21st century ambitions that embrace the world, and an international city built on bedrock community values.
I have been to Boston a few times. But this is my first official visit as the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, and I tried to make the most of it today, seeing as much of this beautiful green city, and its world-class institutions, as I could. And that included visits to MIT and Harvard. I've also brought along students from Hong Kong. Now, where are they? They are here not just to visit the great institutions of Harvard and MIT, but more importantly to learn about their endeavours at innovation and technology. And above all, to establish and foster links between Hong Kong and Boston. I hope our students - Hong Kong's future leaders - who came here on Cathay Pacific's generous sponsorship, could expand their horizon and benefit from this trip.
Cathay Pacific Airways is, of course, among the prime reasons for this visit to Boston, so allow me to congratulate Cathay on the launch of its direct passenger flights between Hong Kong and Boston.
Connecting Hong Kong to the rest of the world is one of Cathay Pacific's great competitive strengths. It is also a key Hong Kong business advantage. We are strategically located on the East-West route, within five hours' flying time of half the world's population. And Hong Kong is the premier international gateway to China. Today, more than 100 airlines operate some 1,100 flights every day between Hong Kong and about 180 destinations worldwide.
That includes 45 destinations in Mainland China. This level of global connectivity expands both our passenger and our cargo reach. It makes Hong Kong a major hub for business and leisure travellers moving in and out of China and Asia in general. It also underscores Hong Kong's role as the "super-connector" between Mainland China and the world.
Convenient, efficient, high-quality air services underpin Hong Kong's credentials as Asia's world city. Over the years, Hong Kong's international airport has been named the finest airport in the world more than 50 times by travellers and industry professionals.
Air service ties between Hong Kong and the United States are strong, with our airlines collectively operating more than 120 passenger services and 130 all-cargo services a week between us, which means on average a total of 35 services a day. Cathay's new, direct flights between Hong Kong and Boston will enhance our connectivity with the US.
Hong Kong International Airport now reaches 22 destinations in the US, nine of which are passenger services, and 45 destinations in the Mainland of China. Last year, the Hong Kong airport handled about 900,000 transfer passengers between the Mainland and the US, along with Canada.
In Hong Kong, cross-boundary coaches, as well as limousine and ferry services, also connect passengers with southern China's Pearl River Delta. About 550 scheduled coach trips are made daily to link Hong Kong International Airport with 110 Mainland cities and towns, while our SkyPier connects with eight Pearl River Delta ports, including Guangzhou Nansha, Macau, Shenzhen and Zhuhai. The launch of the direct flight service by Cathay between Hong Kong and Boston further strengthens Hong Kong's position as the major aviation hub in the region. I can envisage travellers from Hong Kong, Mainland China and Southeast Asia taking advantage of this direct service to promote business co-operation, study at the world-renowned institutions and visit tourist attractions in and around Massachusetts.
Hong Kong has the busiest cargo airport in the world. Ours is also the third-busiest international passenger airport, after Dubai and Heathrow. Last year, Hong Kong International Airport received more than 63 million passengers and handled 4.4 million tonnes of cargo - a year-on-year growth of 5.7 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively.
Our airport is undergoing extensive expansion. By year's end, we expect that Hong Kong International Airport will be able to serve an additional 10 million passengers a year. That should keep it in good stead through the medium term.
As for the longer term, we are moving ahead on the third runway. Upon completion of the project, expected in 2023, the airport will be able to handle about 100 million passengers and nearly 9 million tonnes of cargo annually by 2030. That would bring increases of some 60 per cent and 100 per cent, respectively, from current levels.
Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong's principal home carrier, will no doubt take full advantage of the growth in demand and the projects I just mentioned.
And many thanks to Cathay Pacific for hosting the dinner this evening and for sponsoring the Hong Kong students on this trip. Now, may I call upon the Hong Kong students to give Cathay Pacific a big hand for this sponsorship?
Ladies and gentlemen, the new Boston-Hong Kong flights will boost our ties in countless ways, from government to government ties to business to business ties, from higher education and innovation and technology to the creative arts.
I believe we all learnt from our high school geography that the shortest line between any two points on the world map is not a straight line - it is actually the great circle route on the globe. Now, we probably took that route coming here from Hong Kong. Let me just say this before I end: The shortest and easiest route between our two countries, namely China and the United States, is neither the straight line, nor the great circle route. It is the route through Hong Kong.
Thank you very much.
Ends/Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Issued at HKT 08:43
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