Policy Address
Consolidating Hong Kong’s Status as an International Aviation Hub
67. With its geographical advantage, managerial expertise and vast pool of aviation talents, Hong Kong has over the years established an extensive international aviation network, laying the foundation for the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) to become a pre-eminent international aviation hub. Although the global aviation industry, with Hong Kong being no exception, has been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, I remain confident that our status as an international aviation hub could be consolidated and enhanced.
68. The construction of the Three Runway System to increase capacity is a strategic investment to enhance the competitiveness of the HKIA. It is also a key infrastructure project to enable a “city airport” to transform into an “Airport City”. The reclamation of around 650 hectares of land has been largely completed, as have the pavement works for the 3 800-metre Third Runway. The commissioning of the Third Runway is targeted for 2022 and the full completion of the Third Runway System is scheduled for 2024. The Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has also undertaken various projects to improve the efficiency of the airport and overall passenger experience. It is proceeding at full speed with various high-end logistics projects in view of the rapid development of cross-boundary e-commerce in the region.
69. With the support of the Central Government and the Guangdong Province, I proposed in my Policy Address last year to leverage the HZMB to strengthen Hong Kong-Zhuhai airport co-operation, with the AAHK injecting equity in the Zhuhai Airport on the basis of market principles. While actively following up on the equity injection, the HKSAR Government also endeavours to establish a high-end aviation industrial cluster in Zhuhai in collaboration with the Guangdong Province, encompassing such fields as aircraft maintenance engineering, manufacturing and distribution of aircraft parts and components, and research on aircraft engineering. The Hong Kong International Aviation Academy (HKIAA) will also help nurture technical talents for the aviation sectors of Hong Kong, Zhuhai and the GBA.
