May 2013

Hactl recognises dedication and contribution of long-serving staff

Hactl recently celebrated the long service milestones of its loyal team. A total of 172 staff were entitled to the longservice award this year and around 150 of them attended a lavish ceremony held at City Hall Maxim’s Palace at Central, Hong Kong on 29 April.

Nine employees were honoured for reaching 35 years of devoted dedication to the company, while 19 were recognised for completing 30 years of service. A further 144 staff received 25-year and 20-year service awards. Mark Whitehead, Chief Executive of Hactl presented mementos to these steadfast team members. Several Hactl senior executives also attended the award dinner to share this joyful moment with long-serving staff and swap stories that recalled the old days of Kai Tak as well as more recent events at SuperTerminal 1.

Hactl recognises dedication and contribution of long-serving staff

Mark Whitehead emphasised in his speech the importance of people to Hactl, and stressed that a skilled and experienced workforce is this company’s biggest assets. “In a highly competitive air cargo environment, it is Hactl’s dedicated people that are our competitive edge,” he said. “Our experienced staff ensure that the terminal operates smoothly and that we always provide a high-quality service to the highest international standards. This is what makes Hactl stand out. By recognising the performance and long service of its staff, Hactl is showing that it is proud of its employees’ loyalty and sincere effort, which will remain Hactl a world leader with continuing dedication.”

In this issue of Hactlink, four long-serving staff share their stories and memories of Hactl.

Ng Wai Kin

Customer Service Ambassador 3, Hacis

I joined Hactl in 1977 as a warehouseman. I worked there for nine and a half years before moving to Hacis, where I’ve remained. My motto is "Pride comes before a fall". I believe it applies to anyone in any environment. When I was still a junior at Hactl, my supervisor taught me to stay humble and I still bear that in mind.

One of my unforgettable experiences at Hactl was about a missing coffin a long time ago. We were told that it was tied on a specific pallet but we couldn’t locate it, in the end it was found very high up in the aircraft where we usually would not look. Frankly it was a bit scary.

Although my career life is rather ordinary, my biggest achievement would be meeting my wife at Hactl who works at the Data Centre. My daughter also worked here for three years.

Chan Jim Fai

Duty Manager, Service Delivery

I started my career at Hactl as a warehouseman and have gradually been promoted to become Duty Manager. I work a 12-hour shift. It seems to be quite tiring, but I enjoy having more free time as I work four days a week only.

Looking back over my life at Hactl, the most unforgettable moment would be the move from the old airport to Chek Lap Kok. Before SuperTerminal 1 opened, I worked there to test different systems. At that time, SuperTerminal 1 was still just a dusty construction site. I needed to wear a helmet, face mask and safety shoes at work.

The main reason why I have stayed at Hactl for so long is because it offers such good career prospects. I also appreciate the good welfare package and medical coverage we get. At work, I get along well with my colleagues and we respect each other. Being friendly is the key to good teamwork.

Chu Wai Kwong

Customer Partner D, Service Delivery

I joined Hactl in 1987 as a warehouseman. Over the years, I’ve worked in different roles, but I like driving the towing vehicle the most. It’s tough work and we have to endure different weather conditions and meet very tight schedules.

Apart from enjoying driving, I also deeply treasure the relationships I have with my colleagues at Hactl. We have worked together for many years, since the days at the old airport. To me, Hactl is a big family and I love this place. When the airport moved from Kowloon City to Chek Lap Kok, I also moved to the area so that I could live much closer to SuperTerminal 1. I love my job and I will just live nearby, wherever it is.

Lau Kwok Tseng

Engineering Supervisor, Operation Services

I have worked in engineering and operations throughout my career at Hactl. In the early days, I was mainly involved in maintenance and repair work. Now my job is more about supervision and fault analysis, but I still assist when there is a more complicated problem.

Although our systems are highly automated, there are always things that need to be fixed and manually controlled. This is the value of my job. The reason I have worked here at Hactl for 20 years is because it is very challenging. I enjoy solving problems, especially when dealing with the big cargo systems. This job gives me a great sense of achievement. Life is just too drab without challenges. To me it is always important to have passion for my job. Also, I have worked with many colleague for over 10 years and they are all my good friends.

Hactl recognises dedication and contribution of long-serving staff

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