Xia Baolong promises more ‘preferential policies’ for Hong Kong, as John Lee says Cathay Pacific boosting capacity for expanded travel scheme

“In fact, the day after director Xia arrived in Hong Kong, the central authorities announced the addition of Xian and Qingdao to the solo traveller scheme. Director Xia also indicated that more preferential policies for Hong Kong will come one after another.”

Lee on Wednesday said Cathay Pacific planned to increase its capacity to cope with the anticipated surge in travel demand.

The airline would launch two extra weekly return flights between Hong Kong and Xian from March 31, raising the current frequency to five such flights each week and increasing seat capacity to about 800 for either direction, he said.

All existing daily flights between Hong Kong and Qingdao would now use widebody aircraft, boosting the weekly seat capacity by 11 per cent, or 360 seats, in both directions, Lee added.

According to Cathay’s website on Wednesday afternoon, the extra seats were already available for reservation.

The carrier said it looked forward to providing flight services for more customers from various cities on the mainland.

Hong Kong’s leader said authorities would also continue to speak with airlines about boosting flight capacity between the city and Xian and Qingdao.

Hong Kong governing principle to be permanent feature, top Beijing official says

Lee said Xia had made a show of support for the city’s efforts to boost its connectivity by kicking off his fact-finding mission at the local airport last Thursday and concluding with a tour of the Shenzhen Bay land-based checkpoint.

The visiting official also called for confidence in Hong Kong’s outlook as one of his key messages during the trip, citing the city’s advantages and Beijing’s commitment to safeguarding rights enshrined by law, Lee said.

Lee also said Xia repeatedly stressed the need for stakeholders to have faith in Hong Kong’s development, “especially” in Monday’s meetings with representatives of local and foreign business chambers.

What ‘facts’ for Beijing’s top man on Hong Kong affairs on his fact-finding mission?

“Director Xia used facts and data to demonstrate Hong Kong’s robust core competitiveness, as well as its strength and ability to move towards a brighter tomorrow, pointing out that Hong Kong’s development prospects are not something that anyone can slander,” he said.

The last day of Xia’s fact-finding mission included a visit to Beijing’s liaison office in the city and a tour of the Shenzhen Bay crossing’s departure hall.

Xia’s inspection trip is the second in less than a year. Unlike his visit in April, he did not make a public address this time around.