The “Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress” was successfully staged at the brand new, ultra-modern AsiaWorld-Expo complex, adjacent to, and integrated with the world-beating Hong Kong International Airport in September.

“This is the first time such a major aviation event is held in Hong Kong,” said Financial Secretary, Mr. John C Tsang at the opening ceremony. “Today Hong Kong offers the ideal platform for an event of this kind: the right facilities, the right location and a solid track-record as a city where deals get done.”

Over the past decade, Hong Kong’s aviation sector has grown significantly. The air cargo throughput has doubled to 3.58 million tones, while passenger throughput has grown by almost 60% to 44.5 million by end-2006.

To further boost Hong Kong’s attractiveness as a regional aviation hub, the Airport Authority has earmarked about US$ 1 billion to upgrade infrastructure. This includes the new Terminal 2 building, which opened in early 2007; 10 more cargo parking stands to come on line by the end of the year; a new cross-boundary ferry terminal for sea-air transit passengers to come on line next year; upgrades of the baggage handling system; a north satellite concourse with 10 bridge-served stands for small aircraft, and widening of the taxiways to take the A380.

As part of the program, the Civil Aviation Department assisted in conducting the Airbus A 380 demonstration flight over Victoria Harbor. The A 380 took off from the Hong Kong International Airport and flew over Tsing Ma Bridge before tracking through Victoria Harbor once at 1,300 feet and then at 1,000 feet.