PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY
7/F Shui On Centre, 8 Harbour Road, Hong Kong
臨時機場管理局
Tel: (852) 802 3567 Fax: (852) 824 0717
Hong Kong's New Airport
1.
Hong Kong's new airport is now taking shape.
2.
Preparations for the construction of the new airport at the island of Chek Lap Kok have been under way for well over a year. Behind the scenes and with little or no media attention, consultants, designers and architects have been methodically laying the groundwork for the building of one of the most exciting and sophisticated air transportation facilities ever envisioned.
3.
Typical of the exhaustive process necessary for any one facet of such a project has been the 14 months of development that have preceeded the establishment of the final design parameters of the passenger terminal complex. A detailed study of runway separation, critical to the consideration of terminal design options, was first conducted. Several concepts were then developed which received comprehensive analysis. The choice was thus narrowed to two options and after several months of in- depth comparative studies, the final design was recommended by the consultants and approved by the PAA Board.
The visual and operational focal point of any airport is quite understandably the passenger terminal and thus it is considered by most as the design "flagship" of such a project. The Passenger Terminal Complex at Chek Lap Kok will anchor a transportation facility that will rate as one of the finest in the world.
4.
The new airport is the result of a long process outlined below:
1975 - A study is conducted to assess the limitations on the capacity of the Hong Kong International
Airport at Kai Tak.
1979 - Hong Kong Government appoints a Consultant to undertake a pilot study for a new airport
facility.
1981 - Additional studies done such as master planning, civil engineering and environmental baseline
studies.
1982 - Hong Kong Government reaches decision to proceed.
The Final Report of the Master Plan Study confirms the suitability of the Chek Lap Kok site and proposes a programme for construction leading to a mid-1990 opening date.
1983 - Government puts plans on hold due to economic considerations.
1987 - Strong growth of air traffic experienced in intervening years, together with forecasts of continued high growth leads to renewed consideration of the project and Government decides that planning should again proceed.
Examination of airport sites continues as an integral part of a comprehensive strategic planning exercise referred to as the PADS Study (Port and Airport Development Strategy).
1988 - A review of the Hong Kong air transport system requirements included in the PADS Study leads
to a final report, the Chek Lap Kok Airport Master Plan Review.
1989 - Study examines potential alternative sites and concludes the most suitable location is Chek Lap
Kok.