Financial Secretary Paul Chan on Sunday said it is essential to quickly fill manpower gaps in Hong Kong, as he hailed the upcoming arrival of aviation workers in the SAR.

Under the first round of the labour importation scheme for the transportation sector, officials approved 28 local companies in the aviation industry to bring in 2,841 non-local workers, covering positions such as ground staff and maintenance technicians.

Writing on his blog, Chan said it is vital that the territory quickly plug holes in the workforce with imported workers to support a “rapid and comprehensive” recovery.

He pointed out the Airport Authority expects passenger volume at the Hong Kong International Airport will reach about 80 percent of pre-Covid levels by the year’s end and fully recover next year.

“Overall, the progress of the aviation industry's recovery in Hong Kong is in line with expectations,” he wrote.

He said the airport has so far reached about 75 percent of pre-Covid levels, with about 110 airlines flying to 165 destinations worldwide currently.

Daily passenger volume and flight movements have also recovered to about 65 percent and 70 percent respectively, he said.

The financial secretary added the three-runway configuration is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

The three runways, he said, will boost the airport’s capacity by 50 percent, allowing it to accommodate 120 million travellers per year.