Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan announced the launch of a new service aiming to simplify international travel for mainland passengers departing from regional airports via Hong Kong International Airport. This pilot phase is in collaboration with airports in Hangzhou and Wuhan, and is part of the national aviation programme "Trunk-Branch Connectivity, Whole-Network Linkage." Passengers can check in for the entire journey at their local airports and depart through Hong Kong, bypassing the need to reclaim luggage or check in again. Chan described the scheme as a significant service, referencing how the transfer platform is already active in over 260 airports in the mainland and has facilitated over 260 million transfer passengers, allowing tens of millions of travelers to benefit from one-stop check-in and seamless baggage transfers. She emphasized the scheme's importance not just commercially, but as a policy breakthrough that integrates Hong Kong into the broader national aviation infrastructure. Hong Kong International Airport, Chan noted, serves as a crucial "linchpin," enabling Hong Kong to act as a super-connector and super value-adder between China and the wider world. It aims to enhance connectivity between China's second-largest economy and the rest of the world, fostering opportunities for trade and aviation. As part of this goal, Hong Kong plans to expand its global aviation network from 220 destinations to 240 under its newly unveiled five-year plan.