Speech by Mr Gordon Siu, Secretary for Economic Services at the Signing Ceremony of the Hong Kong/Australia Air Services Agreement on Wednesday, 15 September 1993
Senator Cook, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I join my colleague, the Secretary for trade and
Industry, in welcoming you to this ceremony.
2.
As a former Minister for Shipping and Aviation
Support, Senator Cook will know that air links between Hong
Kong and Australia have a very long history. They date
back to 1949 when the then Qantas Empire Airways, the
oldest airline in the English-speaking world, operated its
first fortnightly scheduled passenger service to Hong
Kong. Cathay Pacific Airways reciprocated in 1969 with
twice-weekly services to Perth. Since then, Qantas Empire
Airways have gone through many changes from a regional
carrier with only a number of DC-4s to an international
carrier, renamed Qantas Airways, serving the world with a
modern fleet of over 100 aircraft, including 56 wide-body
jets. During that period, Hong Kong too has experienced
phenomenal growth and change. In 1949, Hong Kong had a
population of less than 2 million people. Now, we are an
international centre of finance, trade and tourism with a
population of nearly 6 million people.
We