The aircraft used are twin-engined Dakota DC3s and Convairs and four-engined Skymaster DC4s, Canadairs and Constellations. The popular B.O.A.C. flying-boat service to the United Kingdom and Japan ceased in September and was replaced by a land plane service over a similar route, thereby reducing the time to London to three days. The flying boat base is still used by private float planes and by commercial flying boats on charter flights. There has been little alteration to the airfield, but extensive repairs to the runways were carried out and a major resurfacing project planned. This will enable heavier aircraft to be accepted, but the maximum length of 4,730 feet will prevent the largest types using this airport. The preliminary planning of a new airport has begun.
Airport charges remained at the same level as in the previous year but the revenue from aircraft landing and accommodation fees rose from $557,000 to about $12 million.
Hong Kong is now an important centre for the maintenance and repair of aircraft and the workshops of the two maintenance companies are capable of complete engine and airframe overhauls. Among their customers are Pakistani, Indian, Burmese, Chinese and Indonesian aircraft owners. Other activities which have continued training of pilots and aeronautical engineers.
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The Department of Civil Aviation administers the airport including air traffic control, telecommunications and safety services. The Royal Observatory provides full information on weather from a station at the airport: Examinations for aircrew and engineering licences are held from time to time. An Air Advisory Board assists in advising on matters of policy and an Air Transport Licensing Authority has been set up to issue licences for the operation of air routes.
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES
Meteorological services are provided by the Royal Observatory for the general public, merchant shipping, civil aviation and the armed forces. The main forecasting office is located at Hong Kong airport, and is linked to the Observatory by teleprinter and telephone. The Observatory remains the administrative centre, and its work includes the storm warning service, marine weather service, meteorological observations, climatology, training and research.
As a great seaport, Hong Kong is responsible for providing a weather service and storm warnings to ships in the northern part of the China Sea and along the China coast. Close co-operation is maintained between the Observatory and ships of all nationalities, and the large number of weather reports now received from ships at sea is of great value in the forecasting work.
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