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Moreover, the Authority has established a training unit to develop the skills, capabilities and career prospects of its employees. Training on staff management, operations, language and airport related disciplines are available to all staff. In the year 1994/95, 866 staff attended a total of 62 in-house programmes covering a wide range of subjects. In addition, selected staff were sent to conferences and seminars related to aviation and airport operation, and overseas training and attachments with airports and equipment manufacturers to up-grade their skills and knowledge. Staff are also encouraged and given financial assistance to pursue self development studies in job-related subjects.
In 1994, the Authority initiated a graduate engineering training scheme, and currently employs 30 graduate trainee engineers. These trainees will go through a two to three year programme with exchange training attachments with other construction companies leading to their qualification as professional engineers. This programme enables the Authority to build up its local engineering team with hands on experience and knowledge in airport planning and construction work.
The actual construction work at our new airport involves a mixture of major local and overseas companies. Local staff of the Authority therefore have ample opportunities to be exposed to the most advanced construction and systems techniques employed by international contractors, consultants and equipment suppliers. In the case of equipment supplies, the Authority has incorporated in most major equipment supply contracts a requirement for the supplier to provide training to Authority staff on operation and maintenance of the equipment concerned. This helps ensure that the Authority would have its own team of equipment experts when the new airport comes into operation.
On opening, the Authority's responsibility is to operate and manage the new airport. Currently, plans are being drawn up to integrate the existing airport management staff of the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) into the Airport Authority. These staff, over 95% being locals, have many years of experience managing Kai Tak. The smooth integration of CAD staff into the Authority from Kai Tak will ensure a good and experienced core of staff in future for managing and operating the new airport. This management team will work with their commercial, legal, financial. information technology and other colleagues from all professional areas where Hong Kong has considerable strengths and absolutely no shortage of experience and expertise. I am fully confident that when our new airport opens in April 1998, Hong Kong will have a team of experienced local professionals to operate and manage the airport.
End/Wednesday, November 22, 1995
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