The 41st Conference of the Directors General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of Asia and Pacific Regions will be held in Hong Kong from Nov. 1 to 5, 2004, a government press release said Friday.

The theme of the conference, coordinated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), was decided on at the 40th DGCA conference held in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia, from Sept. 1 to 5 this year, according to the press release.

Albert Lam, director-general of Civil Aviation of Hong Kong, who was elected vice-chairman of the conference, attended the event with seven other representatives of the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (HKCAD) as part of the Chinese delegation.

Following spirited discussions of the theme proposed by the HKCAD for next year, the DGCA Conference adopted "Partnership in Achieving a Safe, Secure and Efficient Air Transport System Through Effective Safety Oversight" as the theme of next year's gathering.

ICAO has expended great efforts to promote partnership in many areas, and various co-operation programs have been developed, implemented and enhanced.

To supplement these efforts, it is considered desirable for theconference to focus discussion next year on a subject that will help promote partnership and co-operation and enhance safety, security and efficiency through effective safety oversight.

This year's DGCA conference in Mongolia, whose theme was "Human Factors and Safety Culture in Safety Management Systems to Enhance Safety, Security and Efficiency through Close Cooperation," was well attended, with 154 representatives from 36 Asia/Pacific States, Administrations and three International Organizations.

(China Daily September 13, 2003)