Kenneth Fok, a lawmaker in Hong Kong, urged the government to enhance cooperation with the Greater Bay Area in order to bolster Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub. According to Fok, this recommendation was among several proposals put forth by the G19 bloc of Legislative Council members. He stressed that total passenger throughput at Hong Kong International Airport had not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels, lagging behind competitors such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Fok advocated for closer collaboration between regional airports and particularly emphasized the need for cooperation within the Greater Bay Area. He suggested that Hong Kong could enter into agreements with mainland airports and then engage with partners in Europe and other regions to advance these collaborative efforts, which can only be achieved at the governmental level.
Fok also called for the government to adopt a more proactive stance in promoting the airport to attract more foreign airlines. He highlighted the importance of adopting a more open-minded and aggressive strategy to implement these frameworks and strategies. The recommendations reflect the ongoing efforts to revitalize the aviation sector in Hong Kong, which has been significantly impacted by the ongoing pandemic and increasing competition from nearby cities.