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experienced in all facets of civil aviation. Approximately 93% of the total staff of the department is locally recruited, training facilities being available for all officers to enable them to keep abreast with modern developments in aviation. Civil aviation services provided at Hong Kong Airport include: Air Traffic Control; Air Sea Rescue; Fire and Crash Services; Aeronautical Information; Air Registration Board Surveys; Aeronautical Meteorological Information; Aeronautical Engineering, Repairs, Overhauls and Main- tenance (by the Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd.), which is described in more detail in Chapter 6; and Primary Flying Training and Aeronautical Engineering and Elec- tronics Training (by the Far East Flying Training School).
Plans and work are well advanced on the development of a new airport which will permit 24-hour operation and use by the new jet and prop-jet aircraft expected to be flying on the world's major air routes by 1959. The main develop- ment entails the reclamation of land in Kowloon Bay to provide a promontory some 8,000 feet long and 800 feet wide, upon which a new runway will be built. This runway will eventually be 8,340 feet long and 200 feet wide, and will be of sufficient bearing strength to cater for aircraft weighing 400,000 lbs. Over-run distances of 300 feet and 660 feet respectively will be provided at the S.E. and N.W. ends of the runway, and the total fill necessary for the reclamation will be of the order of 13 million cubic yards. The first stage of the development plan is expected to be completed by August 1958, when 7,700 feet of the new runway will be made available for use on a 24-hour basis. The second stage, which will provide the remaining 640 feet of runway, is expected to be completed at the end of 1958; whilst the third stage, which includes new aircraft parking aprons, terminal area, terminal buildings and associated facilities, is expected to be completed at a later date.
The construction of the new airport, which is being financed from local funds with an interest-free loan of