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Following is the speech by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, at the groundbreaking ceremony for Hangar 3 of Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company (HAECO) today (September 28):
Mr [Chris] Pratt, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am most delighted to be with you today for this groundbreaking ceremony for HAECO's Hangar 3.
Building Hangar 3 is an important investment decision, all the more so when it was made less than a year after the opening of Hangar 2. This $670 million facility, when completed in 2009, will allow three additional wide-body aircraft to be serviced at the same time, expanding HAECO's maintenance capacity by one-third. This investment demonstrates HAECO's strong confidence in its line of business as well as in the future development of Hong Kong as a premier aviation hub.
The Government, through the Airport Authority, provides the infrastructure here at the airport, but ultimately route development decisions are a matter for airlines. I believe the availability of high quality and comprehensive aircraft maintenance services is a key consideration for them. For more than half a century, Hong Kong has been regarded as one of the safest aviation ports in the world. Reliable and comprehensive services of HAECO are an important contributing factor to our excellent track record. Since 1950, the company has developed extensive aircraft maintenance capabilities - from structural modification to component overhaul, and from engine services to blended winglet retrofits. It now provides total aircraft care for a wide range of Boeing and Airbus models.
Over the years, HAECO and the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) have developed a close partnership. HAECO is one of the world's top five independent aircraft maintenance companies, while the HKIA has grown to become the world's busiest airport for international cargo traffic, and the world's fifth in terms of international passenger traffic. The company plays an instrumental role in contributing to the world-class infrastructure of our airport.
HAECO's continuous investments are also good news to our workforce. The newly opened Hangar 2 already creates almost 900 skilled jobs in the coming two years. Hangar 3 will add another 350. I understand HAECO is working closely with the Vocational Training Centre to provide new recruits, mostly high school graduates, with specialist training to enable them to build a career in the profession of aircraft maintenance. And I know that HAECO has a low staff attrition rate, thanks to its commitment to staff development. On average, staff has been working for HAECO for 12 years, and some with more than 40 years of service in the company!
I congratulate the company, and I look forward to HAECO's continued support to aviation development in Hong Kong. Finally, let us all wish the company every success in the Hangar 3 project.
Thank you.
Ends/Friday, September 28, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:15
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