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Cocktail party for Mr. Norman Lo, JP.
Hon Chairman, HKAIA 11 August 2009
Speech by Jackson Ho, MH, President, HKAIA
Dear friends and fellow members,
Good evening, first of all, thank you very much for joining us this evening to congratulate our Hon. Chairman, Mr. Norman Lo for being awarded the Medal of Aeronautics from the French Government. This globally recognized honour is awarded to individuals who have extraordinary contribution to the aviation industry. Norman is the first Hong Kong Chinese being awarded in Hong Kong’s aviation history. I believe this will be a break through of the barrier both locally and internationally that people involved in the aviation industry were rarely getting recognized.
On behalf of the members of the Association and the aviation industry in Hong Kong, congratulations for a job well done! Norman.
While taking this opportunity, before I invite Norman to say a few words, I would like to update you all the recent progress of your Association. HKAIA currently has 70 corporate members who are employing 60,000 employees including Hong Kong, mainland and other places.
With the partnership of the Hong Kong Productivity Council, we managed to obtain a Government funding of 10M Hong Kong Dollars for the development and manufacturing of an aircraft seat. We also obtained the support from the local manufacturing industry to contribute a fund of 1.4M Hong Kong dollars as a start in this project. This is a very challenging project and we fully understand that the road ahead is not easy.
Meanwhile, we have Zero record on aircraft parts made by Hong Kong manufacturer. However, we firmly believed that a few years later, we’ll find many aircraft parts successfully make in Hong Kong. This scenario makes no difference from the challenge of making automobile parts ten years ago by the Hong Kong industrialists. Let’s wait and see. Thank you.
May I invite Norman to say a few words for us please.
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Jackson Ho, MH
Founding President
11 August 2009
1st Executive Committee Inauguration Ceremony and
Founding Anniversary Dinner of
Hong Kong Aviation Industry Association on 28 March 2008
President's Message
Distinguished Guests, Members, Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Hong Kong Aviation Industry Association, it is my great honour to welcome you to the Founding Dinner Party and the Inauguration Ceremony of our First Executive Committee.
Built on the reputation of excellence, the civil aviation industry of Hong Kong has maintained remarkable safety record, renowned management and quality system and outstanding maintenance standards in the world. As an international aviation hub of the region, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) provides direct connections to more than 150 cities around the world. It was voted the World’s Best Airport in the Annual Skytrax Survey 6 times in the past 7 years. In 2007, a record high of 47.8 million passengers throughput placed HKIA the 5th in the world and 3.74 million tonnes of cargo kept us at the top of the international cargo throughput. The first A380 Airbus that flew over Victoria Harbour during last year’s Asian Aerospace Expo showcased the credit of the Hong Kong aviation industry. Being one of the contributors, we share the pride of all these achievements.
Promulgated by the Hong Kong Productivity Council and the support by the local industrialists, the non- profit aviation organization, namely the Hong Kong Aviation Industry Association (HKAIA), was established on the 29th August 2006 with a mission to promote the development of Hong Kong aviation industry and to enhance its competitiveness. The Association consists of four divisions, namely Manufacturing, Service and Maintenance, Professional and Quality System, and Investment and Trading. Currently we have more than 60 members of which over 50 are corporate members from renowned enterprises, airlines, aircraft maintenance organisations, technology research and development organisations, training institutions and manufacturers of products in different trades. Our individual members comprise of professionals from different sectors including investors, academics, quality assurance consultants and professional pilots.
Based on CAAC annual report, in 2007 the air transport industry in mainland carried 387 million passengers and 8.61 million tonnes of air cargo and mail. According to their forecast it will carry 1.4 billion passengers and 30 million tonnes of air cargo and mail in Year 2020. With the geographic advantage at the south gateway of mainland, together with our efficient management, quality systems and the experience in global partnership, our contribution will not be restricted to the local aviation industry but extend to mainland to cope with the tremendous growth in the next few years.
We have a great aspiration to the formation of the HKAIA. Apart from exploring business opportunities in Hong Kong and mainland for Hong Kong industrialists, we are committed to guide them to develop the manufacturing of aircraft non-critical parts. We will also proactively assist the training of aviation maintenance personnel to cater for the increasing demand in the industry. Certainly, to the new comers who prepare to take this challenge, we will lead them to understand that “Participation in this industry is not just a business, but a long term commitment and contribution to aviation safety”.
In the past 12 months, with the support from the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Vocational Training Council and people in the industry, Hong Kong Productivity Council and we had organized a number of different activities including overseas visits, business matching, seminars, and aviation related trainings. All these activities were well received with exceptional high participation.
The HKSAR Government had rendered tremendous support to the improvement and development of tourism, logistics, environmental protection and education in recent years. It had subsidized the Automotive Parts Research and Development Centre for the Research and Development of new technologies in auto-parts manufacturing. This year one of our missions is to act as a communication bridge between our industry and the government, aims to seek for similar support from the government in the research, development and training so that we can stay in pace with the blooming industry. This will definitely enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong aviation industry in the global market.
Last but not least, thank you for your participation. Without your support, we would not be able to be here tonight. I would like to thank Mr. Albert Lee, Chairman of the Dinner Party Organizing Committee and his team, and the colleagues from the Hong Kong Productivity Council for rendering assistance. I would like to extend my gratitude to all Vice Presidents and committee members of the Association who had given me great support in the past 18 months.
Finally, please allow me to express my profound appreciation to the guidance given by our Honorary Chairmen, Mr. Norman Lo, Dr T.L. Ng, Mr. Cliff Sun, Founding Advisor Mr. L.M. Li from the Hong Kong Productivity Council, Honorary Advisors Dr W.K. Lo of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Mr. David Lui of the Hong Kong Airlines, Mr. Christopher Gibbs of Cathay Pacific Airways and Hon Miriam Lau, the Legislative Councilor. Thank you Hong Kong Productivity Council. You have done a great job for Hong Kong on the mission, which many had thought impossible.
I wish you good health and prosperity in the coming years. I also wish the aviation industry of the mainland and Hong Kong will fly towards a very bright future. Thank You!
Jackson Ho, MH
Founding President
28 March 2008
Hong Kong Aviation Industry Association
Message From the Founding President
It is my honor and privilege to serve as the first President of The Hong Kong Aviation Industry Association (HKAIA), a hot seat that requires tremendous effort to face challenges. HKAIA is a non profit making organization established in August 2006 with the aim to assist and unite the Hong Kong industrialists to develop the manufacturing of aviation components; to organize training courses for Aircraft Services Engineers and technicians; to enhance a better service; and simultaneously seek business investment opportunities. These objectives could not be achieved without the support from the Government, the aviation industry and associated organizations both in Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas.
Hong Kong has achieved her excellent reputation and created many world historical records in the past years in the MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) activities. However for many reasons, we are far behind our neighbour country in aviation research and development as well as aircraft parts manufacturing. There has been lack of government support or the government has no direction to support the industry due to the lack of a communication platform between the two parties. Hong Kong Productivity Council, being encouraged by a large number of auto parts manufacturers and other industrial enterprises has kindly taken the challenge of assisting the industry in the formation of the HKAIA to fill in this communication gap.
The outlook of the global aviation industry particularly in the Far East is geared for exciting times ahead. The demand of aircraft in Mainland China will be increased tremendously from the current 1000 aeroplanes to around 2800 in the next 10 years . The present capability in providing aircraft maintenance facilities, service engineers and technicians will be unable to cope with the increasing demand. Hong Kong, as the gateway to Mainland China, need to take immediate action and to grow together with the industry or else we may lose our competitiveness in a few years’ time.
I am glad to advise that HKAIA since her formation has met with overwhelming encouraging response and support from the government departments, the academia, airlines, MROs and manufacturing industries. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department, the Innovation and Technology Commission, The Trade Development Council, the Vocational Training Council, fellow member companies and individuals, and particularly the Hong Kong Productivity Council and our committee members for their outstanding contribution and hard work in helping to set up the Association.
In the coming months, your committee will work very hard with prioritized focus on aircraft parts manufacturing and aviation personnel training. The introduction of the new Hong Kong Aviation Regulation HKAR-21 on 1st February 2007 namely Certification of Aircraft and Related Products, Parts and Appliances, and Design and Production Organization will provide us with an excellent opportunity to start this new venture. The road ahead is not straight forward but our mission is not impossible.
Congratulations to the launch of the first HKAIA Website. Please feel free to give your suggestions and comments to the Editorial Committee. This will help to improve the operation of the Association.
Last but not least, I would like to extend my invitation to those companies or individuals in the aviation industry and those who are interested to support the objectives of the HKAIA to join as a member of the Association. Your support are of paramount importance to the industry, to Hong Kong and the mainland.
Best wishes to you and your beloved!
Sincerely yours,
Jackson Ho MH FSAE
Founding President
28 August 2007 |
