Those who came to Hong Kong after 1949 were of three origins: China’s Air Force, China National Aviation Corporation, and Central Air Transport Corporation. The main weakness lay in their languages, because other than the higher-ranking officers these newcomers were bad in English and quite handicapped even in Cantonese. It was very difficult for them. Since ours was a British company, it was more advantageous to have some proficiency in English. Those who came from the Air Force, CNAC and CATC hankered after HAECO because there wasn’t another company of the kind. It was easier for the high-ranking men, because they knew English and they could do paperwork, planning and supply. Others were mostly Sheet Metal workers. Generally these immigrants spoke no Cantonese, but the company hired them so long as they could communicate in Mandarin. The Sheet Metal Department of HAECO was doing great exactly because they had employed many experts from CNAC. They were old hands at structuring.

By the time of the merger we were a force of different origins, like CNAC, CATC and the Air Force. Most of us were Cantonese. Not many came from other provinces.