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A R C H I V E S

Hong Kong’s Unsinkable Dora Kay

     “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated,” has always been a quote that brings a smile.
     In Hong Kong the SARS scare that caused almost total cessation of what during the past few years has been a world economic bright spot, has been no laughing matter.


Dora Kay:
"Time to get back to business."
     For the airline business in general and air cargo in particular, SARS has taken a miserable toll all around just at a time when it was thought that everybody could ride out economic slowdown elsewhere and even war in the Middle East, by flying into China destinations and particularly HKIA.
     Dora Kay may not be the biggest person in the room right now, but the job that this director of marketing for Airport Authority of Hong Kong has is daunting, and will take every bit of brilliance and daring plus even a bit of luck, as she labors to repair Hong Kong’s image in the world.
     Put another way, right now the most important airport marketing executive in the world is Chinese, and a woman.
     Make no mistake Dora has plenty going for her.
     She will get the airlines back on schedule via Hong Kong.
     To Dora Kay there is no doubt about that at all.
     The rest of us should pay attention because in her effort to rebuild service during the next year or thereabouts, she will undoubtedly rewrite the book as well.
     Last year Dora Kay masterminded a very successful TIACA show just as HKIA was tearing up the world with continued double digit growth.
     TIACA also got lucky as Dora assumed top command of that organization.
     But now it is late May 2003 and just like that the air business has gone away.
     “April and May are our peak periods, with several long weekends, Chinese festivals, Easter and the like. SARS really impacted our passenger business.
     “Cargo was a bright spot with numbers in April actually up 3.1% which goes to show that international trade continues to be driven by a robust and growing Chinese economy.
     “But right now with World Health Organization (WHO) clearance, that Hong Kong is once again safe, we have taken unparalleled measures to ensure that our facilities are safe everyone. We are cleaner than clean and a healthy airport community.” Further more Airport Authority (AA) announced a “Recovery Stimulation Program” to encourage airlines to stimulate traffic and resume canceled flights.
     The AA has been in consultation with the Board of Airline Representatives Hong Kong (BAR) on incentive proposals to help airlines re-build traffic and increase passenger flow.
     Under the program, airlines reinstating canceled flights will enjoy a discount on landing charges. A higher percentage of discount will be offered when a flight resumes with a lower passenger load factor and vice versa, up to a maximum discount of 50%.
     For existing flights, more passengers carried (i.e. higher load factor) will result in higher discounts in Landing Charge, also up to 50%.
     “The Recovery Stimulation Program demonstrates the essence of partnership in achieving a common goal. This Airport Inc. spirit put us all collectively back on our feet to get Hong Kong taking off again,” said AA Chairman Dr. Victor Kwok-king Fung.
     BAR representatives welcomed AA’s incentive program.
     “AA’s latest incentive program is an innovative way of combining efforts of airlines and airport to revive the aviation industry,” said Gilbert Chow, Vice Chairman of the BAR.

Dr. Victor Kwok-king Fung, arms wide open, welcomes return of business at Hong Kong International Airport.

     “It is forward looking and aimed at bringing more customers to everybody in the aviation business. BAR appreciates this new cooperative spirits and we are committed to working with the AA to further strengthen Hong Kong’s status as the leading aviation hub in the region,” Mr. Chow said.
     Meantime, AA unveiled a multi-million-dollar revitalization package under Operation SkyFit to stimulate traffic and bring business back to Hong Kong.
     The package, announced less than 48 hours after the World Health Organization lifted its travel advisory on Hong Kong, comprises eight initiatives to encourage airlines to reinstate canceled flights with the aforementioned huge discount on landing charges, to lucky draws with a car as prize for air travelers.
     AA will launch a global advertising campaign and sponsor co-brand with its airline partners that promote Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) as a safe, secure and healthy airport.
     “In the wake of the SARS outbreak, it is important that in addition to providing excellent airport services, it is our duty to ensure that we provide a healthy environment all around, for travelers, for visitors to HKIA and staff alike,” said the Chairman of AA Dr. Victor Fung.
     “Health is now a cornerstone of our airport operations. We want the airlines to tell their passengers that they are flying to a very safe and healthy airport.”
     Dr. Fung said the unique model of Operation SkyFit again highlighted the “spirit of Airport Inc.,” which involved the entire airport community from airlines to shops, franchises and government departments operating at HKIA.
     “We believe that SARS is well under control in Hong Kong and we should do the right thing to speed up the pace of recovery,” said Dr. Fung. “Hong Kong, the preferred destination, is now back on the world travelers’ road map.”

     Outside Dora Kay’s window many aircraft are parked on the tarmac carrying the livery of Cathay Pacific and Dragonair the “hometown” airlines that have been made to bear the brunt of the SARS scare slowdown.
     Their presence there is a constant reminder that SARS a disease that has affected 1,718 people out of a population of more than seven million, or 0.02%, had the ability in the age of instant global information to become a monster story which has taken on a life of its own.
     Dora looks at the aircraft and counts each one that moves from its parking spot back into service as a step in the right direction.
     “Maybe if people know that more than 1,230 people of the reported SARS cases here actually recovered and went home and back to normal lives, that might help toward better understanding.
     “China is on a course of continued growth that will not be stopped. We are working to add more all-cargo service here as we speak so that our cargo capacity is sufficient to meet demand.
     This October, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will hold a logistics conference right here in Hong Kong which will be an important world event
     “It’s a good time for internationalists to come to the fore. Hong Kong International Airport is open for business. Air cargo keeps on growing here, driven by the continuous robust Mainland China economy, and Hong Kong’s superior position and facilities.
     “Personally I think the worst is over and now it’s time to get back to business.”
     We say Amen to that, sister.
     Contact Dora Kay: kayd@hkairport.com

China Markets Open Up Via Hong Kong

     That free trade agreement announced Sunday June 29 between Hong Kong and Mainland China is one giant step toward opening the Chinese economy to world competition.
     By giving greater access to Hong Kong companies and allowing the HK subsidiaries of many of those businesses access to the mainland market, Beijing has underscored the importance of Hong Kong and, maybe even secured the gateway’s future importance.
     Even though the British retreated from Hong Kong in 1997,the place is still set up with a separate economic, legal and political system. Hong Kong also is a separate customs territory with its own trade rules from Mainland China.
     Therein was the cover. The Chinese, always mindful of what is really going on struck decisively to afford opportunities to jumpstart the Chinese “miracle” economy after some tough recent sledding.
     Observers note that the deal between the mainland and Hong Kong SAR will allow companies to gain even more elevated access than Beijing allowed under its recent entry to World Trade Organization (WTO).
     The bankers seem overjoyed according to some recent press with officials from Citibank, and elsewhere fairly rapturous over expanded trade possibilities.
     One area that may open up for Mainland China access is the restriction of only allowing 20 Hollywood movies a year into the country.
     While it is possible in some cases to buy bootleg copies of movies on DVD while they are still running in USA theaters, USA filmmakers have so far been thwarted in their attempts to bring many of those films to the big screens of China.
     News of new business connections comes just as carriers from all ports of the world are gingerly ramping up their frequencies again as the SARS ban by World Health Organization against Hong Kong was lifted recently.
     To a world anxious for a hot market anywhere, this recent news out of China could not have come at a better time . . .