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The 41st Conference of the Directors General of Civil Aviation, Asia and Pacific Regions, coordinated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), will be held in Hong Kong from November 1 to 5, 2004.
This year, the 40th DGCA Conference was held in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia, from September 1 to 5. Mr Albert Lam, Director-General of Civil Aviation, who was elected Vice-Chairman of the conference, attended the event with seven other representatives of the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (HKCAD) as part of the Chinese delegation.
Following spirited discussions of the theme proposed by the HKCAD for next year, the DGCA Conference adopted "Partnership in Achieving a Safe, Secure and Efficient Air Transport System Through Effective Safety Oversight" as the theme of next year's gathering.
In its theme proposal, the HKCAD noted the need for closer co-operation and partnership as the world moves towards globalisation and aviation enters a new era of rapid technological development, bringing with it new safety, security and facilitation challenges. The scope for co-operation and partnership has also been extended and a much wider area is covered, including many matters related to safety and efficiency. Indeed, all areas addressed by the 18 Annexes to the Convention on International Civil Aviation are covered. The form of co-operation may include consultation, information/experience sharing and joint efforts between the private sector and government authorities, between governments on a bilateral basis and among governments on a regional or international basis.
ICAO has expended great efforts to promote partnership in many areas, and various co-operation programmes have been developed, implemented and enhanced. To supplement these efforts, it is considered desirable for the conference to focus discussion next year on a subject that would help promote partnership and co-operation and enhance safety, security and efficiency through effective safety oversight.
It is hoped that the topic will attract papers to convey experience, ideas, comments or suggestions on the ways and means of co-operation being practised in the region or elsewhere. This includes any existing or planned programmes, or any new initiatives in any form of co-operation or partnership that could help achieve a safe, secure and efficient air transport system. It is also hoped that through the presentations and discussions, the next Conference will gain an insight into the recent development in co-operation practices/programmes in respect of safety, security and efficiency through effective safety oversight; review any relevant practices or programmes and discuss ways of enhancement as appropriate; discuss and agree on new co-operation initiatives and strategies for the region; and formulate action items for the implementation of agreed programmes/measures.
This year's DGCA Conference in Mongolia, whose theme was "Human Factors and Safety Culture in Safety Management Systems to Enhance Safety, Security and Efficiency through Close Cooperation", was well attended, with 154 representatives from 36 Asia/Pacific States, Administrations and three International Organisations. Mr Albert Lam acted as moderator of the session on the theme during the second day of the conference.
A total of 93 discussion/information papers were submitted for the conference. Besides the theme topic, items discussed included air navigation planning and implementation, Satellite-based Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) implementation activities, aviation safety, aviation security, air transport and technical cooperation.
The HKCAD submitted five papers covering the latest CNS/ATM systems developments in Hong Kong, regulation of air traffic services in Hong Kong, emergency escape provisions - doors and escape slides deployment programme, backup air traffic control centre and tower at the Hong Kong International Airport, and the proposed theme topic for next year.
HKCAD representatives participated actively in the conference by taking turns to comment on various aviation subjects and update the delegates on the activities and achievements of the department. The Federal Aviation Administration of the United States recognised Mr Lam's practice to encourage colleagues to speak up at the conference.
Prior to the conference, Mr Lam made a brief stop in Beijing and met Captain Yang Yuan-yuan, Minister of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) and Mr Liu Shao-yong, Vice Minister of CAAC. The major purpose of the visit was to exchange views with the CAAC regarding issues to be discussed at the ICAO 11th Air Navigation Conference to be held from September 22 to October 3 in Montreal, Canada. Mr Lam will be the deputy team leader of the Chinese delegation to the conference.
Agenda items include introduction and assessment of a global air traffic management operational concepts, safety and security in air traffic management, air traffic management performance targets for safety, efficiency and regularity and the role of required total system performance in this respect, capacity-enhancement measures, aeronautical navigation issues, and aeronautical air-ground and air-to-air communications.
Mr Lam also discussed a wide range of issues with the CAAC Minister. These included the impact of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome on the aviation industry and the latest developments in Hong Kong and the Mainland, as well as the operations of Hong Kong-based airlines, etc. The discussions helped to promote CAAC's understanding of civil aviation activities in Hong Kong, and were beneficial to the future development of the aviation sectors in the Mainland and Hong Kong.
End/Friday, September 12, 2003
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