The magnitude of the project, and of the implications of the removal of the airport and the release of Kai Tak, demand very careful and detailed consideration of all aspects before a decision can be taken whether or not to construct a replacement airport. Accordingly, it is proposed to carry out studies in stages, and to submit a series of memoranda to Honourable Members presenting an up-dated situation report on the use of Kai Tak and seeking approval to proceed to the next stage of the studies, or to terminate them, as the case may be. In the latter event, attention would be turned to the development of Kai Tak to its maximum potential (short of providing a second runway), which would involve widening the promontory to improve safety.
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(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
As a first stage of the studies it is proposed:
that the land development study of north Lantau now being undertaken by the Public Works Department should include a civil engineering study of the feasibility of forming land at Chek Lap Kok for a replacement airport;
that consultants be engaged to develop an airport layout plan to show the configuration of the runways, the airport approach zones and the boundaries of the airport within which the required areas for all the necessary airport facilities and functions could be determined.
Such a plan would initially be flexible to allow it to be modified in the light of the engineering conditions discovered by the PWD study (see (a) above);
that a meteorological data collection station be established on Chek Lap Kok to determine whether there are any particular weather factors which would significantly limit aircraft operations at Chek Lap Kok, or dictate runway alignment and disposition. Meteorological conditions are an important factor in the design and construction of an airport and thus have a bearing on the overall cost;
that a comprehensive assessment be made of the implica- tions of closure of the airport at Kai Tak on the overall development of Hong Kong. These investigations would include a study of the optimum utilisation of released land at Kai Tak as part of the development programme, and an assessment of the financial and economic implications deriving from it.
C.S. 166
CONFIDENTIAL #