Hong Kong – Opening remarks by STL at Routes World 2025 Host Party (English just) (with picture)

Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, at the Routes World 2025 Host Party today (September 26):

Chairman Peter (Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Dr Peter Lam), Chairman Fred (Chairman of the Airport Authority Hong Kong, Mr Fred Lam), Steven (Managing Director of Routes, Mr Steven Small), Michael (Executive Vice President – Commercial Development of Informa Markets, Mr Michael Duck), Vivian (Chief Executive Officer of the Airport Authority Hong Kong, Mrs Vivian Cheung), women and gentlemen,

Invite you all to Hong Kong! I am so thankful that we have the ability to alter the inviting reception to a goodbye reception. Otherwise, I will not have the ability to see all of you and take part in this remarkable occasion. Thank you once again, Vivian.

I believe the majority of you have had a really pleasurable remain in Hong Kong, in spite of some disturbance brought by the incredibly hurricane. On the other hand, I am sure you have had a taste of our well-known subtropical cyclone. You can likewise get a look of the city’s extremely effectiveness and strength in returning to regular, including our cherished International Airport. I can show you a couple of pointers on how we can return to typical after a serious hurricane.

With innovative preparations and the collective efforts of various Government departments and the Airport Authority Hong Kong, we altered preventive steps and advanced preparations. As far as the airport is worried, we had actually developed a great deal of contingency strategies to guarantee a sustainable and consistent operation of the International Airport. We had to make a couple of changes to the inbound and outbound flights, traveler security is of utmost value. On the other hand, for this round of extreme weather condition, Vivian and her group had actually put in little tricks like dispensing some popcorns; sweets; some goodies consisting of blankets, water, to let our guests, who may need to remain in the airport for a little while, feel the heat and convenience that Hong Kong provides.

Back to the Routes World 2025 today, which is the style of this occasion, I am extremely happy for the adaptiveness and likewise effectiveness in making all sorts of changes to the plans, making the occasion a fantastic success. With such a big crowd of visitors and individuals standing in front of me today, it advises me of a part of our Chinese history. A terrific Chinese Admiral Zheng He (鄭和), who was widely known of his trip, took a trip to the modern-day Kenya, changing all his paths into a huge network growth which likewise assisted in the exchange of concepts. In lots of methods, I believe all of you are making history today like he did. You are linking and the occasion has actually combined more than 2 500 individuals from all over the world in popular air travel market to Hong Kong.

I understand that over the previous 2 days, there have actually been more than 9 000 conferences going round throughout the occasion, drawing up some brand-new paths, cultivating brand-new relationships and brand-new collaborations with various partners around the world. In a manner, we are making history, and we are forming a brand-new future for not just our skies, we likewise form a brand-new future for our economies and neighborhoods. Hong Kong is really prepared and has actually prepared to welcome global conferences and occasions like Routes World. We look forward to having more of this kind of occasions in Hong Kong, to display our function as a first-rate center, not just for air travel, however likewise for development, concept exchange and partnership.

Looking ahead, I wish to reveal 2 things in which we can develop brand-new development for air travel advancement in Hong Kong. Of all, the Hong Kong Government will lead the Airport Authority in establishing settlements and conversations with our significant air travel partners, to bring together some brand-new air services contracts. On the other hand, I understand that the Airport Authority, with Fred and Vivian’s management, has actually been putting in location an extremely visionary and energetic outreach group to talk about various service capacities for brand-new airline companies pertaining to Hong Kong. I would like to inform you that today the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government has actually simply revealed the development and facility of a brand-new advisory committee, the Advisory Committee on Development of International Aviation Superhub. With this terms, you can see the value Hong Kong Government is connecting to establish Hong Kong into not simply a regular air travel center, however a worldwide air travel superhub. With all of you here today putting together, I hope that we can collaborate to develop brand-new alliance, to cultivate brand-new relationships and conquer the numerous difficulties presented by the modifications in the worldwide landscape, supply chain interruptions or airspace limitations.

Apart from all this service regimen, I wish to attract you to take a little bit of your time this night, and have a look at the environment surrounding you today. We are here in this stunning M+ location, where history and modernity assemble. I am really grateful for the organiser, Informa Markets and likewise the Airport Authority Hong Kong, for making this occasion so unforgettable, and making this goodbye occasion took place. Please do not forget to take your time to take a look at the spectacular Hong Kong horizon, in which the sky tonight is incredibly clear, maybe due to the fact that the extreme storm has actually simply passed. No matter what storms lead us, we will ultimately see a clear blue sky. Thank you quite for attending this goodbye occasion, and I hope you are having a pleasurable night. When once again, welcome you all to Hong Kong!