Cathay welcomes call for third runway

CATHAY Pacific Airways has welcomed a Hong Kong government budget strategy, set out by financial secretary John Tsang, which highlights the need to strengthen the region’s competitiveness as an international hub and improve the business environment to achieve continued economic growth.
John Slosar, the airline’s chief executive, has expressed his support for the government’s commitment to maintaining Hong Kong as “a highly open international city with strong and extensive commercial ties to the world to ensure the free flow of people, goods, capital and information”. 
A cornerstone of the strategy is the development of a third runway at Hong Kong International Airport [HKIA] – which is the only viable way to ensure the city’s long-term competitiveness and sustainable development, he suggests. “We are encouraged by the financial secretary’s assurance that the government is assisting Airport Authority Hong Kong to press ahead with a three-runway system. We look forward to the results of the Environment Impact Assessment, as well as the release of further information on the financing of the third runway,” he states.
Cathay also welcomes the emphasis given to the promotion of high value-added logistics services.
Investment in people is of great importance too, he says. The issue of mismatched manpower needs to be addressed to maintain Hong Kong’s competitive edge, as manpower shortages would hamper the development of industries.