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Speech by SLW at Dragonair Youth Aviation Academy's "Aviation Insights" (English only)
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     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the Dragonair Youth Aviation Academy's "Aviation Insights" event in celebration of the 100th anniversary of aviation development in Hong Kong today (June 25):

Mr Leung (Acting Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr Leung Yu-keung), Group Captain Lee (Commanding Officer of Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps, Mr Lee Kwok-wing), Captain Taylor (Assistant General Manager (Flying) of Dragonair, Captain Ross Taylor), ladies and gentlemen, young friends,

     It gives me great pleasure to open this "Aviation Insights", which marks the 100th anniversary of aviation development in Hong Kong. I am also honoured to launch the Dragonair Youth Aviation Academy. This is a commendable initiative by Dragonair to inspire and nurture young talents to join the local aviation industry. Let me congratulate the Civil Aviation Department, Dragonair and the Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps for staging this most meaningful event.

     A good aviation network supported by an efficient airport infrastructure is critical to the success of any economy. For Hong Kong to maintain its strategic position as a key aviation hub in Asia Pacific, we must ensure the future supply of a competent and high-quality workforce.

     The island at Chek Lap Kok now provides employment for 62,000 people. To maintain our competitiveness and to keep abreast of future demand, the Hong Kong Airport Authority has floated two development options for public consultation. The first and optimum scenario is to develop a three-runway system. This will more than double employment at the airport island to 141,000. Even if we opt for expansion of the current two-runway system, the number of jobs will grow to 101,000. This underlines the need for a world-class international airport to be underpinned and propelled by first-rate human resources. In short, state-of-the-art hardware must go with good software.

     At a time when many people in Hong Kong, particularly youngsters, are expressing concern over what they perceive to be slower upward social mobility, I would urge them to turn to the aviation industry. Specifically, aviation provides a wide spectrum of quality and attractive careers with training and advancement opportunities. For the enterprising youngsters, aviation not only provides jobs, but also launching pads for rewarding professional development. In short, the aviation industry will enable one to fly high and be upwardly mobile, in both the social and physical senses.

     In a wider context, investing in human resources and ensuring the sustainable supply of a quality workforce is a major anchor of the Hong Kong SAR Government's labour and manpower policy. It is for this reason that the Labour Department in 2009 enhanced and integrated its Youth Pre-employment Training Programme (YPTP) and Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme (YWETS) into a through-train programme - YPTP&YWETS - to provide seamless and comprehensive training and employment support to young people aged 15 to 24 with educational attainment at sub-degree level or below.

     Since the integrated programme was launched in September 2009, 26,400 youths have been enrolled. In the first five months of this year, we have received more than 3,000 applications. I am delighted that for the current programme year so far, YPTP&YWETS has secured 8,200 on-the-job training vacancies from employers of various industries and trades.

     Let me take this opportunity to thank various stakeholders in the aviation industry most warmly for helping our youngsters to "fly" by offering them gainful chances of work experience. Many of you here are our close partners in promoting YPTP&YWETS. The Civil Aviation Department, Dragonair and its subsidiaries including LSG Sky Chefs, Dah Chong Hong and Dragonair Airport Ground Support Equipment Service Limited have provided on-the-job training so that our young people can get a good first-hand understanding of the industry.

     Finally, I trust that all the young participants today will make the best of this opportunity to gain valuable insights into the world of aviation. I hope that you will one day realise your dreams and spread your wings in the aviation sector. Thank you.

Ends/Saturday, June 25, 2011
Issued at HKT 10:43

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