Polytechnic plans aviation maintenance research centre

Hong Kong's first research centre for aviation maintenance technology is in the planning stage at Polytechnic University.

Academics hope the centre will boost the industry in the city, which has suffered from a lack of fresh talent despite the huge potential provided by the sector's development on the mainland.

Professor Alex Wai Ping-kong, the university's vice-president for research development, said the government had agreed in principle to support the proposal, which will have start-up costs of around HK$100 million and annual expenses of HK$50 million to HK$60 million.

He said government officials supported the idea of seeking funding from the Innovation and Technology Fund for both initial and recurrent spending on the centre. Funding will also come from various partners in the industry, and from clients on individual projects.

Professor Wong Tsun-tat, an aviation specialist at the polytechnic, said: "In Hong Kong, a recruitment exercise for cabin crew could attract a thousand people, but this is not the case for aviation engineering.

"But the potential for demand on the mainland is enormous."