HISTORY OF THE PROJECT
3. It has been clear for a number of years that it will be
necessary for Hong Kong to construct a new airport to
replace Kai Tak, the capacity and development potential of which are limited. Kai Tak is a single runway airport built on reclaimed land and surrounded by dense urban development.
Accordingly, as early as 1973, a consultancy study was
conducted to identify a suitable location for the new
airport. In all, thirteen sites were considered, covering
every corner of the territory. The study concluded that the
best most appropriate site would be Chek Lap Kok, a barely inhabited island to the north of the larger island of
Lantau. The suitability of Chek Lap Kok was confirmed by a feasibility study carried out in 1979-80, followed by a
masterplan study in 1982. Plans to begin construction were
well advanced; but in 1983 the project was shelved because
of a number of uncertainties
: the world economy
was in recession and civil aviation traffic contracted for
the first time in history; Hong Kong was suffering a collapse in property prices; and the Hong Kong Government's
finances were in deficit.
4.
Within a few years, however, air transport began to
expand once again and the overall economic situation
improved. By 1986, the volume of passengers at Kai Tak was growing very rapidly (by 19% in 1987, and by 20% in 1988).
5. A study commissioned in October 1987 reported in 1988 that Kai Tak risked reaching capacity within five years unless a wide range of improvements were made to extend its
life. In the light of this report, the Hong Kong Government
introduced a comprehensive series of measures. These include the provision of an additional 30 parking bays, upgrading air traffic control equipment and procedures and improvements to road access to the airport. The capacity of
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