Cathay Pacific expects goods business to improve

Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. (0293.HK) expects its cargo operations to improve in the second half after a softer first half, and China remains its major increase driver as the nation's demand for air travel continues to soar, Chief Executive John Slosar said Monday. The blue-chip carrier's weekly cargo income was behind target because of softening demand in its Hong Kong home market, according to an internal document seen by Dow Jones Newswires on Sunday.

Slosar said on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association's annual meeting in Singapore that the blue-chip carrier will continue to look at buying more aircraft but he declined to complicate. Slosar said he hopes to take delivery of freighters scheduled for the second half of this year, but he doesn't have a timetable and is in deliberations on that. He also said the yields on first- and business-class fares have returned to pre-crisis levels.

SOURCE: cheap business class, business class seats

Hong Kong Here and There

Some random photos from my rambling around in Hong Kong.

Around the harbour.

Kwoloon Ferry Terminal.

Streets of Kowloon.

Kowloon tenements.

Hong Kong - Around the Island

If you take the time to move around, you will discover that Hong Kong is not just glass, steel and contrete. Being an island in the South China Sea, there are many scenic beaches around, and some of the best are right on the island itself. Probably the most popular seaside area is Stanley Bay, where you will find the Stanley Market - a popular open market where you can get some bargains on clothing, t-shirts and other touristy stuff. 

The cheapest way to get around is to use the trans-island bus service. Just get a ticket and you can hop on and off whereever you like. 

Otherpopular beaches are Repulse Bay and Deep Water Bay. These are posh residential areas with a lot of highrise condominiums which spoil the views somewhat.

Hong Kong Architecture - HK Convention & Exhibition Centre

The Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) extension was built to commemorate the handover of Hong Kong back to China in 1997. Built on a reclaimed island, the new building is connected to the existing Convention Centre by a skybridge. The shape of the main roof is meant to symbolize a seabird soaring in flight, and is the most dramatic feature of the building. 

Hong Kong - Langham Place

One of the most interesting shopping mall in Hong Kong is the Langham Place at Mongkok, Kowloon. Unlike most modern shopping centres where the shops are laid out along level promenades next to atrium spaces, here the shops are laid out on a terraced promenade which wind down from the highest level to the lower levels. A set of escalators take visitors right up to the top level, and you are supposed to walk down from there. These escalators go straight up for about 8 levels. It's quite a thrilling ride !

Hong Kong Architecture - IFC

IFC is the International Finance Centre - a huge development consisting of 2 office towers, the IFC Mall shopping centre, and Four Seasons Hotel. Located right next to the Hong Kong Station where you take the airport express, this is undoubtedly the biggest single development in Hong Kong.

The 88 storey Two IFC Office Tower is the tallest building in Hong Kong. Designed by American Architect Cesar Pelli who was also responsible for the Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers, this elegant building has a glass skin which seems to shimmer in the sun. The metal frames are quite small and closely spaced, making the building look a bit like a gigantic bamboo birdcage. Perhaps this was Cesar Pelli's inspiration for the design ? The building is terminated with aggressive claw like structures, looking not unlike X-Man Wolverine's hand extensions. 

The IFC Mall is a swanky shopping centre with the typical international brands. The design is quite generic, with a predominance of steel, marble and glass. Needless to say you need very deep pockets to shop here. There is a nice roof terrace which is occupied by various food and beverage outlets. You also get good views of the harbour from here.

Entrance to Hong Kong Station.

Interior of the IFC Mall.

The nice roof terrace with lots of food and beverage outlets.

Hong Kong Architecture - Part II

Hong Kong has not joined in the race to build the tallest building in the World, unlike many Asian cities over the past decade. This could be due to the business mindedness of the developers here. They are more interested in the profits rather then stoking their ego. Most of the buildings here are quite practical and utilitarian, though there are some quite interesting structures if you care to look around. 

A group of office towers at the waterfront.

The Lippo Centre - one of the more interesting office towers in Hoing Kong. This was designed by American Architect Paul Rudolph.

The famous Hong Kong Club - designed by Harry Siedler.

One Peking in Kowloon - a relatively new office tower.

The Headquarters of Cheung Kong Holdings - the flagship of Hong Kong property tycoon Li Ka-Shing.

Hong Kong Architecture - Part I

As a major global financial centre, Hong Kong has it's fair share of landmark buildings. One of the most recognisable buildings is the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank - when it was built it was one of the most expensive buildings in the World. Designed by Sir Norman Foster - this was his breakthrough into the world of elite Architects. A high-tech icon, this building was designed in modular components much like a Lego set which was built in different parts of the World and assembled on site. The bridge structure was revolutionary in allowing an almost entirely column free space inside.

Another landmark building - the Bank of China. This building was designed by renown American Chinese Architect I.M. Pei. It was meant to upstage the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank building, and to a certain extent it succeeded through it's sheer aggressive stance. When the design was first unveiled, it was widely criticized as being not good Feng Shui due to the many sharp corners. Later on it was revealed that the sharp corners were deliberately introduced to weaken other financial instutitions in Hong Kong in order to ensure the BOC's eminence. Beileve it or not !