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FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 153
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HKB 182 13
OF 15120OZ JANUARY 91
м
(35+)90/HKC 182 12.
Marke
ریار
نام cises حمار
ca
YOUR TELNO 2447 : BBC ASIAN RELAY STATION
FED
116557
MDLIAN 0708
18/1
13
Mr. Stane Mis Maaten for unt
Ah Pow)
1. IT IS NOT BECHTEL BUT GREINER-MAUNSELLS, THE AIRPORT MASTER PLAN CONSULTANTS, WHO HAVE BEEN EXAMINING THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS AT CHEK LAP KOK OF THE HIGH INTENSITY RADIO TRANSMISSION AREA (HIRTA) ASSOCIATED WITH THE BBC RELAY STATION.
2. THE SIZE OF THE HIRTA WAS LAST CONSIDERED AND AGREED IN TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS IN MID 1987 BETWEEN THE BBC, OUR POST OFFICE, THE UK CAA AND OUR CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT. AT THAT TIME, ATTENTION WAS UNDERSTANDABLY FOCUSED ON ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF HIRTA ON AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS AT KAI TAK.
3. GREINER-MAUNSELLS HAVE COMPLETED A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION INTO THE POSSIBLE IMPACT OF THE HIRTA ON CHEK LAP KOK OPERATIONS. THEIR PRESENT VIEW IS THAT THE HIRTA WOULD IMPOSE CONSTRAINTS ON DESIGNING SAFE APPROACH/DEPARTURE FLIGHT PATHS FOR THE AIRPORT. AN ADDED COMPLICATION SINCE 1987 IS THE AIRSPACE REQUIREMENT TO THE NORTH FOR THE OPERATION OF SHENZHEN AIRPORT, CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. MORE DETAILED STUDIES ARE CURRENTLY IN HAND. UNTIL THESE ARE COMPLETED, AND A VIEW TAKEN, WE CAN MAKE NO FIRM RECOMMENDATIONS. IN ARRIVING AT A FINAL DECISION, WE WILL OF COURSE BEAR IN MIND THE CONSIDERABLE POLITICAL AND PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES SURROUNDING ANY REMOVAL OF THE RELAY STATION.
4. WE ARE ADVISED THAT THE RISKS MIGHT BE MINIMISED IF THE SIZE OF THE HIRTA COULD BE REDUCED. IN ORDER TO ASSESS THE POSSIBILITIES OF SUCH A REDUCTION, THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT HAVE FOR SOME TIME BEEN DISCUSSING WITH THE RAF HERE ARRANGEMENTS FOR TEST FLIGHTS TO BE CARRIED OUT TO PROVIDE FURTHER DATA ON THE STRENGTH OF THE HIGH FREQUENCY TRANSMISSIONS INVOLVED.
5. GREINER-MAUNSELLS WILL TAKE THIS NEW DATA INTO ACCOUNT IN THEIR FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS. THEIR BRIEF REQUIRES THEM TO MAKE A FIRM RECOMMENDATION ON 4 MARCH. IF THE BBC WISH TO DISCUSS THIS WITH GREINER-MAUNSELLS AND OUR EXPERTS, WE SHALL BE HAPPY TO PROPOSE DATES AFTER THE NEW DATA IS AVAILABLE AND BEFORE 4 MARCH.
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