TNAG-2917-FCO40-4192-International-support-from-Australasia-regarding-the-future--1993 — Page 36

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