(HONG KONG) Dragonair welcomes the commitment of the Hong Kong Government to give its full support to the construction of a third runway at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA)  and the development of Tung Chung. The commitment was made by Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive C Y Leung in his Policy Address today.

Dragonair Chief Executive Officer Algernon Yau said: “The development of a third runway is critical not just to maintaining the status of Hong Kong International Airport as a premier aviation hub, but also to the long term economic development of Hong Kong. We are encouraged by the Government’s commitment to this essential infrastructure project that will further strengthen Hong Kong’s position as the gateway to Mainland China.”

Dragonair now operates flight services to 49 regional destinations, including 22 cities in Mainland China, from its Hong Kong base.

“We support the Government’s initiatives to expand its network of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in the Mainland, which will help facilitate travel and trade flows,” Mr Yau added.

As one of the long-standing members of the airport island in Lantau, Dragonair also welcomes the Government’s initiatives to develop Tung Chung and East Lantau, believing the measures will complement the completion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in 2016 to help develop Tung Chung into a transport hub connecting Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta.

Mr Yau said: “The development of the Tung Chung New Town will help provide much-needed manpower resources in Lantau to support the aviation companies operating on the airport island. We welcome this approach, and at the same time we are encouraged by the Government’s various initiatives to address the labour shortage issue.”