China pledges support for Hong Kong aviation hub development
China's civil aviation authority says it will support Hong Kong's airport to develop differently from mainland airports, leveraging its unique advantages under 'one country, two systems'. The pledge was made at the Super Hub Expo.
China's civil aviation authority has pledged to support Hong Kong's airport in developing a distinct role from mainland Chinese airports, leveraging its advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle, a senior official said on Tuesday.
Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Vice-Admiral Han Jun made the remarks in a speech at the third Super Hub Expo, an industry conference. He said the global air transport landscape was undergoing profound adjustments, with industrial and supply chains accelerating their restructuring.
Han said Chinese civil aviation was pursuing a path of intelligent, green and integrated development. He said the sector was pushing ahead with the construction of a unified domestic market and a high level of international openness, and was deepening the development of an aerial "Silk Road".
Hong Kong had unique advantages, backed by the mainland and connected to the world, Han said. The Hong Kong International Airport was one of the world's most important international aviation hubs, with its cargo throughput ranking among the world's highest for many years, he noted.
These achievements were the result of long-term efforts by the Hong Kong government, the airport and airlines, and were a vivid embodiment of China's reform and opening-up policy and the successful practice of "one country, two systems", Han said.
The CAAC would actively support Hong Kong in leveraging its institutional advantages under "one country, two systems", its international network and its professional services, Han said. This would allow it to develop differently from mainland airport clusters, while working in coordination with them, he added.
Han said the authority would deepen practical cooperation with Hong Kong in areas such as route network expansion, air logistics, smart civil aviation construction and the low-altitude economy. He expressed support for Hong Kong's civil aviation sector to achieve greater results and make greater contributions.