Hui Hon Chung, Stanley / Committee Member, Former CEO of Greater Bay Airlines
I learned that there is a Fuzhou Changle International Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone. If it could enjoy the same policies as Tianjin Dongjiang Free Trade Port Zone, that would be the ideal cooperation approaches.
Hui Hon Chung, who has more than 45 years of management experience in the aviation industry, believes that Hong Kong’s strengths are exactly what Fujian needs. He looks forward to more in-depth cooperation between Fujian and Hong Kong, including jointly developing new businesses such as aircraft leasing.
Hui Hon Chung:
Hong Kong is an international city, and its aircraft leasing business is open to the world, and can also be applied to the Chinese mainland. This industry involves a very complex taxation system. Benefiting from the latest tax concession legislation, Hong Kong aircraft leasing companies may have more flexibility in their operation.
The passenger throughput of Fuzhou Changle International Airport was more than 13.2 million last year, with a year-on-year increase of 130%. More than 1.2 million people in Hong Kong are from Fujian, and the flight distance from Hong Kong to Fuzhou is about one and a half hours. Fujian and Hong Kong are closely connected. With the promotion work by the Consultative Committee on Fujian-Hong Kong Cooperation (Fuzhou New Area), the number of flights per week between Fuzhou and Hong Kong has increased from 13 to 17 in the past two years.
Hui Hon Chung:
Fuzhou Changle International Airport has relatively few international flights, but it has flights to Hong Kong. Hong Kong is very international and has more flights to all parts of the world than many airports in the Chinese mainland. Fuzhou Changle International Airport was developed in the early days, it could study how the Hong Kong Airport can assist, such as providing consulting services. Just like the arrangements made with Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Fujian and Hong Kong can have similar collaborations.
Every airport is part of the city infrastructure, and every airport serves the local economy. Fuzhou Changle International Airport has its own mission, as does the Hong Kong Airport, we can work together. Therefore, there is no competition here, only cooperation.
Earlier this year, the Hong Kong Legislative Council passed the Provisions for Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Aircraft Leasing Tax Concessions) Ordinance 2023. The ordinance has five optimization measures to attract aircraft leasing companies to settle in Hong Kong. It leverages Hong Kong’s advantages in financing, international competition, publicity, talent exchange, and training.
Anthony Wong / Deputy Leader of Aviation and Logistics Group of the Committee
We hope to invite local logistics associations, local universities and industry representatives to the next meeting. It's important to hear their views on logistics directly. They may have more ideas and insights than the government, and we can help address their needs. I am absolutely confident in our ability to communicate on these aspects in the future. The more we understand each other, the better and deeper we can work together.
Fuzhou Changle International Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone was established in July 2023:
- It is the first airport comprehensive bonded zone in Fujian Province.
- It features an "air-rail-port" three-dimensional transportation linkage comprehensive bonded zone.
- The zone will include Hong Kong goods exhibition and sales spots, as well as special warehouses for Hong Kong goods.
Fuzhou Changle International Airport aims to become a global air cargo hub:
- The second phase of construction is underway to allow more made-in-China products to go abroad.
- The annual passenger throughput is expected to be 36 million after the construction.
- The cargo and mail throughput are projected to be 450,000 tons.
Fujian and Hong Kong have six major cooperation directions in the field of aviation logistics, including e-commerce platforms, new energy vehicle sales, aerospace communications industry.