Fred (Fred Lam, Chairman of the Airport Authority), Captain Liu (Victor Liu, Director-General of Civil Aviation), Sir Michael (The Hon Sir Michael Kadoorie, Non-Executive Chairman of Sir Elly Kadoorie & Sons Limited), Philip (Philip Kadoorie, Non-Executive Deputy Chairman of Sir Elly Kadoorie & Sons Limited), ladies and gentlemen

Good afternoon and thank you for joining us. 

Today marks the completion of a five year terminal redevelopment project and a major milestone in Hong Kong’s business aviation journey. The project was officially signed in April 2021.  You may remember that was the worst of times during Covid.  There were no flights because of the extreme quarantine, and Hong Kong’s economic outlook was at best uncertain.  But we decided to launch this project, not only for its business potential but because it’s very important to Hong Kong and above all, because of our enduring confidence in Hong Kong, through every high and low, even since when I came back to Hong Kong to work in late 1977.

Five years on, we are proud to stand here today to mark its completion. This milestone is especially meaningful as business aviation continues to play an increasingly important role in connecting the decision-makers who drive global commerce. The Asia-Pacific region has seen particularly strong growth in this business aviation sector, reflecting its expanding role in international trade, finance, and innovation. Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to support this growth. Under ‘One Country, Two Systems’, we function as a vital bridge between the Mainland and international markets - a role reaffirmed in the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan. Within the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong facilitates the flow of capital, talent, and expertise, information and technology in both directions. HKBAC is designed to serve this dynamic landscape, providing world-class infrastructure that strengthens Hong Kong’s role as a Super-Connector and also a Super Value-adder.

Our mission is clear from the outset: to make HKBAC a world-class business aviation centre, setting the standard in the three things that our customers value most: privacy, efficiency and luxury.  We want to bring a sense of ease and refinement to every journey, regardless of the destination. To achieve this, we have studied leading business aviation centres around the world and incorporated their best practices into this redevelopment. 

With the completion of the redevelopment project, HKBAC now delivers a fully integrated, next-generation terminal. This includes five VIP suites, an open guest lounge, expanded F&B offerings, a pet travel lounge, the “Little Aviator” kids room. These are all enhancements that respond to how today’s modern high end travellers move. Innovations like our JetLink “wing-to-wing” transfer service make connections between commercial and private aviation faster and smoother than ever. Meanwhile, Asia’s first 26-metre Sky Canopy offers a fully weather-proof experience to our customers, stretching from the terminal to the aircraft. 

Today, HKBAC rivals the best FBOs in the world, and in my view, better than the ones in Singapore and Japan, and anywhere in Asia. I am pleased to share that earlier this year, HKBAC was named “World’s Leading FBO Terminal” at the 32nd World Travel Awards, widely regarded as a global benchmark for excellence in the travel industry. But we will not stop here. We recognize that our customers’ expectations continue to evolve and we are committed to keeping pace. We will continue to enhance our facilities and services, working closely with the government to meet these expectations, whether through more streamlined CIQ clearance, direct drive-by-and-board services or other initiatives that further elevate the customer experience.

Beyond infrastructure, HKBAC enjoys unparalleled connectivity. Our network now spans 429 airports worldwide, reaching far beyond most commercial aviation networks. Combined with our bespoke services, premium facilities and operational expertise, this global reach is translating directly into growing demand, making HKBAC a preferred gateway for global corporates, family offices, and mega event delegations. In 2025, our number of movements has already surpassed pre-pandemic levels, and 2026 has also started strongly. 

Building on this momentum, HKBAC is set to play a bigger role in shaping travellers’ first impressions of Hong Kong, particularly as Mainland’s visa-free arrangements continue to expand, bringing more international visitors through our doors to the Mainland.

We are also playing a key role in Hong Kong’s economic development. In 2025 alone, we handled 330 flight movements supporting newly listed IPO companies and major events such as Art Basel, Fintech Week, the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit, LIV Golf, and the Hong Kong Sevens. Many of these travellers – particularly IPO executives from non-first-tier Mainland cities – chose private or business charter jets for their comfort, efficiency and flexibility.  With a robust IPO pipeline in the stock market, and a growing calendar of mega-events, HKBAC is in a strong position to support this growth. 

Behind this success is a dedicated team. None of this would have been possible without the people behind it. Should we give a round of applause to our management and working team, and thank you for supporting this cocktail too. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the HKBAC staff and the project team. Their professionalism and attention to detail are at the heart of the experience our customers value most.

I also wish to express our deep appreciation to the Airport Authority, the Civil Aviation Department, our partners and business aviation operators. Your support has been the bedrock of this project’s success.

Looking forward, the role we play will become ever more strategic. As cross-border business activity deepens within the Greater Bay Area and beyond, the efficiency, privacy, and seamless connectivity that HKBAC offers will be increasingly critical to the decision-makers shaping today and tomorrow’s investments, partnerships, and innovations. With strong support from the motherland and extensive global connectivity—背靠祖國，聯通世界—we will continue to grow alongside Hong Kong, contributing to its next chapter as a global business hub, a Super-Connector and a Super Value-adder.

Thank you.