EXTRA MILE’s First Anniversary HKIA Promotes Creating Shared Value With Community

(HONG KONG, 22 May 2019)  –  Celebrations were held at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) to mark the first anniversary of the EXTRA MILE project, an innovative community investment project with a vision to creating and promoting shared value between the airport community and the wider community.

Launched by Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) in 2018, EXTRA MILE highlights collaborations among the AA, its business partners at HKIA, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and neighbouring communities. The project aims to develop and nurture talent, promote social mobility and contribute to the development of HKIA and the society. It comprises three programmes, namely “Working Holiday@Lantau”, “The Pioneer” and “EduCare”, which target working youth, non-Chinese speakers, and working parents at HKIA.

Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government; Fred Lam, Chief Executive Officer of the AA; and representatives of the three Community Partners officiated today’s event.

Speaking at the event, Mr Cheung commended EXTRA MILE for promoting “creating shared value” through innovative ideas and models, enabling enterprises, social entrepreneurs and social welfare organisations to partner with each other and join hands in promoting social and economic development at HKIA and its neighbouring communities in Lantau, as well as providing job opportunities and enhancing social mobility for different sectors in the community. Mr Cheung said the Government has set up the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund under the Commission on Poverty; and with the fund the Government is committed to promoting “creating shared value” by organising forums, site visits, workshops and steering courses so as to assist enterprises in formulating business plans for promoting shared value. He encouraged more enterprises to take part in promoting the concept of “creating shared value”, bringing benefits to the community while developing the economy and creating business value.

Mr Lam said, “Today we are happy to see the first and second year participants of EXTRA MILE joining us to celebrate the first anniversary of the project and witness the beginning of the second year. We believe people from different background will be able to benefit from the career prospects and support provided at the airport. We are committed to continuing to expand the programme to enable more airport business partners and members of the community to benefit from the shared value we create together with all our partners.” 

EXTRA MILE has made encouraging progress with staunch support from the airport’s business partners. During the year, the number of participating Strategic Partners of EXTRA MILE increased from 15 to 24, offering a wide range of job opportunities including roles in inflight and ground handling, aircraft maintenance, aviation security, catering, customer service, hotel and logistics services.

Under the Working Holiday@Lantau and The Pioneer programmes, 60 local youngsters and non-Chinese speakers were matched with jobs at HKIA. Off-the-job support like volunteer activities for young participants and personal training courses for non-Chinese speakers are also provided to assist their career and personal development. EduCare provides after-school care to around 100 primary school students whose parents are working at the airport. Parenting workshops on different topics are also held for EduCare participants.

The 24 business partners participating in EXTRA MILE are: 

• A & S (HK) Logistics Limited
• Asia Airfreight Terminal Company Limited
• AsiaWorld-Expo Management Limited
• Aviation Security Company Limited
• Cathay Pacific Airways
• Cathay Dragon
• Cathay Pacific Catering Services (HK) Limited
• China Aircraft Services Limited
• DHL Aviation (Hong Kong) Limited
• Gate Gourmet Hong Kong Limited
• Hong Kong Aero Engine Services Limited (HAESL)
• Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited
• Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited
• Hong Kong Airlines
• Hong Kong Airport Services Limited
• Hong Kong Aviation Ground Services Limited
• Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre Limited
• Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel
• Jardine Aviation Services Group
• Plaza Premium Lounge Management Limited
• Regal Airport Hotel
• SATS HK Limited
• Select Service Partner Hong Kong Limited
• Worldwide Flight Services Holding S.A. 

About the Community Partners of EXTRA MILE

Community Partner of “Working Holiday@Lantau” – The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups

The HKFYG is the city’s largest youth service organisation. Since 1960, the HKFYG has been providing opportunities and facilities for the social, educational, cultural and physical development of young people. The HKFYG promotes the concept of “life planning” for young people and as a result, the Youth Employment Network has acted as a bridge for youth to smoothen the transition from school to work by improving their employability skills, while at the same time, exploring work opportunities and encouraging the business sector to employ young people.

Community Partner of “The Pioneer” – HKSKH Lady MacLehose Centre

HKSKHLMC has been providing diversified social services for people from different sectors with the spirit of “not to be served, but to serve” since November 1973. The Services for Ethnic Minorities Unit under HKSKHLMC is dedicated to helping Non-Chinese Speakers (NCS) to integrate into society by facilitating whole person development, offering parental education support to NCS families, and enhancing the practice of “career planning” within NCS communities.

Community Partner of “EduCare” – Playtao Education Foundation Limited

Playtao is a social enterprise under SVHK which has provided afterschool childcare and education services for children from underprivileged families through its “Playtao Foreverland” programme since 2009. It seeks to empower children by raising their skills and exposure through multi-disciplinary, extra-curricular learning. Up until now, 16 cooperative schools and education centers, over 4000 students, and more than 800 mentors have participated in this programme.