Acting CS speaks at Opening Ceremony of HAECO's Hangar 3 (English only) (with photos/video)

Acting CS speaks at Opening Ceremony of HAECO's Hangar 3 (English only) (with photos/video)
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Following is the speech delivered by the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Stephen Lam, at the Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company (HAECO) Hangar 3 Grand Opening Ceremony in the Hong Kong International Airport today (September 25):

Mr Christopher Pratt, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     I am delighted to have the opportunity to join you today for the official opening of HAECO’s Hangar 3.

     Hong Kong sets extremely high aviation standards and we are very proud of our modern and efficient airport here at Chek Lap Kok.  On many occasions, this airport has been rated as the best  in the world.  And there are a host of factors contributing to this: the airport design, the wide range of international carriers which operate here and the excellent ancillary  services which we have here at the airport.

     Aside from this, of course, aviation safety is terribly important.  Over the decades, Hong Kong has been able to maintain an excellent and impeccable record of aviation safety.  In all these respects, I am pleased to say that HAECO has made a significant contribution in making Hong Kong’s airport one of the most successful in the world.  This team we have in HAECO is part of the Hong Kong airport's "A Team".

     I would like to take today's opportunity to share with you three aspects which are very close to my heart.

     Firstly, I believe that the opening of  HAECO's Hangar 3 will help broaden Hong Kong's horizons as the international aviation hub in Asia.

     HAECO has been providing aircraft maintenance services to Hong Kong for many decades.  Its history spans the heydays of Kai Tak into the 1990's and into the 21st century in which we have the Hong Kong International Airport here at Chek Lap Kok.

     Enhancing airport safety and upgrading maintenance standards over the decades have been no easy task and have been no small feat.  Hong Kong International Airport is one of the busiest in the world.  It rates first in terms of international air cargo.  It ranks fifth in terms of international air passengers.

     Now Hangar 3 will be a most important addition to the facilities which we have here.  It will keep Hong Kong ahead of the competition.  Its timely investment actually highlights HAECO's confidence in Hong Kong's future in terms of maintaining our position as an aviation hub and as a major destination for tourism and trade in Asia.

     The second point which I would like to share with you is that aviation plans continue to move forward.  The airport's master plan for 2030 is already in the making.  In this study we, the Government, together with the trade, would wish to embrace many key issues including the third runway, terminal facilities, logistical support and other developmental needs of Hong Kong in the aviation field.  Over the past year, like many other business sectors, the aviation and tourism sectors have had to face a tremendous challenge as a result of the financial tsunami and the economic downturn.  But I am pleased to note that, in recent weeks, there have been hopeful signs that the downturn may be tapering off and that brighter days may lie ahead.  But I hasten to add that we are not yet in a position to predict whether Hong Kong’s economy and for that matter the aviation and tourism sectors are already turning a corner and will be off to a full recovery.

     Now the third point I would like to point out today is that the Hong Kong Government is fully committed to maintaining Hong Kong's connectivity with Mainland China and the rest of the world.  In this connection, I would like to cite three key infrastructure projects.  First of all, we have on the drawing board a rail link to link up the Hong Kong and Shenzhen airports.  As and when we get this Hong Kong-Shenzhen airport railway, this will improve interconnectivity between the two places and this will help us maximise and optimise the operation of the two airports and enhance cross-boundary traffic flow.  Later this year, the Government also intend to commence our works on two other key infrastructural links: the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the high speed railway which will go from West Kowloon to Guangzhou.  As and when this high speed railway is built, it will take us less than one hour to get from West Kowloon to Guangzhou, five hours to Wuhan, eight hours to Shanghai and 10 hours to Beijing.  So ladies and gentlemen, today is an auspicious day.  I think on the one hand, we should applaud HAECO for their confidence in Hong Kong's future and for their contribution in terms of maintaining not just aircraft safety but Hong Kong’s top-notch standards in the aviation world.  On the other hand, Chris, we would like to offer you warm congratulations and best wishes for every success in HAECO's future endeavors.

     Thanks very much.

Ends/Friday, September 25, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:47

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