Hong Kong Airport Authority (AA) Chairman Victor Fung pledged
Friday to do everything possible to maintain HK's aviation
leadership in Asia.
Speaking at a luncheon hosted by the Hong Kong Exporters
Association, Fung said Hong Kong's competitiveness depends on
maintaining its position as Asia's premier aviation center, and the
AA will do everything possible to contribute to the success of Hong
Kong.
He said as the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) faces new
competition from other airport hubs in the region, it has
undertaken a series of measures to ensure its continuing leadership
position.
These include the Air Cargo Consolidation Center set up at the
Shenzhen Futian Free Trade Zone, the start of operations of the
Marine Cargo Terminal, the expansion at the Asia Airfreight
Terminal and express air cargo services by DHL.
Fung said "the competition has never been so intense. But, until
now, Hong Kong's airport, as well as its shipping and logistics
industries, still enjoy a significant edge when it comes to
convenience and quality of service."
He cited a recent study by research consultant GHK that showed
the factors affecting the competitiveness of an airport are
frequency of flights, efficiency of customs clearance,
connectivity, facilities, operational efficiency, services and
cost.
Talking about the airport charges and their role in enhancing
the AA's financial performance, Fung said," the AA will likely be
able to achieve our financial targets without substantial increases
in airport charges, thanks to rapid traffic growth projected in the
next few years."
"The AA will achieve a reasonable rate of return through robust
traffic growth, cost control and an increase in non-aeronautical
revenues," he added.
He said, in 2004, the total cargo throughput at the airport is
expected to exceed 3 million tons, a 14 percent increase over last
year. The share of air cargo as a portion of total external trade
has increased from 20 percent to 30 percent in the last
decade.
(Xinhua News Agency December 11, 2004)