2600027
C.S. 20A
CONFIDENTIAL
SAVINGRAMX Despatch
From the Governor, Hong Kong
To the Secretary of State for the Colonies
Repeated to:
Repeated to:-
27th February, 1969
e
My Reference.........
CR 13/951/68
197
+
No.
ffairs.
No.
No.
4 -
Your Reference..
7.
Experience over the years has shown that there are relatively frequent occasions when the cloud base falls below 700 feet though it seldom falls below 500 feet. Therefore, if nothing is done, increasing traffic alone will force more and more planes to land on Runway 31 in spite of adverse wind conditions. This will cause increasing delays in arrivals and departures and in certain situations will preclude some planes landing in Hong Kong at all during peak hours,
8.
of: -
If the new approach system is installed, it will have the effect
(a)
providing more accurate guidance;
(b)
guiding planes to within one and a half
miles of the runway instead of three and a half miles as at present;
(c)
9.
(d)
(e)
(£)
making for a much more gentle turn into the runway at the end of the approach; (Please see line marked in blue in Figure C attached at Enclosure 3
}
taking the approach away from hills so that Runway 13 can be used for landings even when the cloud base is 500 feet;
improving safety generally because landings on Runway 13 is more in harmony with wind conditions; (Landings on Runway 13 can be expected to increase from about 65% as at present to about 85% with the new system. )
25** See 12+46;
reducing delays by reducing the number of occasions when Runway 31 will have to be used for landings.
It is proposed that the system be tested before the components are purchased. The suppliers are willing to bring the equipment here for testing if the Hong Kong Government is prepared to meet the cost, estimated at about £ 17,200 if the experiment fails. If successful, part of the expenditure on the experiment, that is, the cost of taking the equipment away, will not arise. The total cost will then be about £137,500 in all.
/10.
I now forward....