REPLACEMENT AIRPORT FOR HONG KONG
1. HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
The idea of a replacement airport for Hong Kong was mooted in the early 70's as the steady increase in passenger and air cargo throughput at KAI TAK warranted investigations. Fortunately, with the advent of the wide-body aircrafts, the increased volumes were easily handled without an appreciable increase in flight movements. Unfortunately the wide-bodies were not getting any wider and the problem of a replacement airport became more apparent again in the late 70's.
Hong Kong Year Books under "Civil Aviation" reports as follows:-
1980
1981
1982
1983
In March,1979, a consultancy was engaged to carry out a series of studies for a replacement airport at Chek Lap Kok Island by Hong Kong Government.
In May, 1980, the govemment decided to go ahead with further studies on the possible building of a replacement airport at Chek Lap Kok off northern Lantau, after endorsing the findings and recommendations of consultants engaged in March, 1979, to develop a pilot plan and cost estimates for such a project.
The replacement airport studies progressed as planned during the year..... Consultants were engaged in February (1981) to undertake an airport master planning study, as one of a series of related studies for a replacement airport at Chek Lap Kok.....
The replacement airport studies at Chek Lap Kok off northern Lantau progressed as planned and the project continued to receive detailed consideration within the Government.
1984
1985
1986
The replacement airport studies related to Chek Lap Kok were completed early in the year. The project was, however, shelved for financial reasons and further consideration of a replacement airport for Hong Kong will be in the context of long-term development strategy.
No mention of replacement airport.
No mention of replacement airport.
Hong Kong's single runway KAI TAK Airport is one of the busiest in the world. In 1989, some 13.7M passengers (16.5M including transit passengers) and 730,000 tons of air-cargo with a total value of HK$234.2 Billion (representing about 20% of Hong Kong's import, 29% of export and 16% of re-export by value) passes through this single runway. In fact, KAI TAK'S air-cargo throughput exceeds that of Heathrow, London. This is significant because all other major Asian cities either have two airports or two runways, with the exception of Kuala Lumpur or Jarkarta. (Table No. 1)