Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced the latest budget today (Feb. 26), highlighting the recovery and development potential of Hong Kong International Airport. Here are the key points:

Aviation Recovery:

Hong Kong International Airport now connects to nearly 200 destinations worldwide, with daily passenger and flight operations largely returning to pre-pandemic levels. The airport has consistently ranked first globally in air cargo volume.

Three-Runway System:

The three-runway system was launched at the end of last year, and passenger facilities are scheduled to begin phased operations by the end of this year, further enhancing the airport's capacity.

Expansion of the "Airport City" Development:

The Airport Authority has just announced plans to expand the "Airport City" development outline, focusing on utilizing the airport island and surrounding land and waters to develop a new hub centered on the aviation industry, integrating high-end commerce, arts, tourism, and leisure activities.

C919 Aircraft Introduction:

In January, the domestically developed C919 aircraft began regular flights between Hong Kong and Shanghai, marking its first application outside the Mainland. This signifies a breakthrough for domestic aircraft entering the global market. Hong Kong will support the C919's international market penetration, and the International Aviation Academy will expand its training programs to cover C919-related areas.

Aviation Services Collaboration:

Coordinated by the Investment Promotion Agency, the Airport Authority has signed a memorandum of understanding with a leading overseas aviation service company to explore providing aircraft dismantling, parts recycling, and talent training in Hong Kong, aiming to position the city as Asia's first aircraft parts handling and trading center.

Paul Chan emphasized that these measures will further solidify Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub and bring new growth momentum to the local economy.

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