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PORT DEVELOPMENT
Development Studies
That Hong Kong would need huge new port facilities to cope with its phenomenal growth became apparent in the early 1980s. It was also obvious that Kai Tak, one of the world's busiest airports, would reach its maximum capacity in the mid 1990s and that a new airport would have to be built.
Just as Hong Kong's phenomenal business success had put pressure on the port it had stretched the facilities at Kai Tak airport. As with the Kwai Chung container port, geography meant that Kai Tak was incapable of expansion. Hong Kong needed a new airport as well as a new port. It made economic and engineering sense to consider both together.
In July 1987 the Executive Council approved the launching of the Port and Airport Development Study. Its acronym, PADS, has since entered the everyday language of Hong Kong.
In October 1989 the Governor, Sir David Wilson, announced that both the airport and new port would be built at Lantau Island.
Although PADS determined the general site of the port, stretching south-east from Penny's Bay on Lantau towards Hong Kong Island, it did not decide its exact pattern.
Since August 1991 APH Consultants, have, on behalf of the government, been carrying out the Lantau Port and Western Harbour Development Studies to decide the best layout for the new port. APH is a joint venture of Acer, Au Posford Consultants Ltd. and Frederick R. Harris (Far East) Ltd.
The consultants examined five options including a peninsula, a series of connected islands with berth entrances to the east and to the west, and east and west facing basins. They evaluated different configurations from port and harbour aspects, marine risk and navigation, environmental impact, transport and traffic links and onshore land planning.
The evaluation showed a strong preference for the west-facing island layout. Its main advantages are:
* Long term development potential is much higher than for other configurations.
* The preferred western approach channel allows for better marine traffic arrangements and manoeuvering into and out of the port basins. Ship/ship and ship/ferry encounter risk is low, typhoon evacuation fast and traffic control needs are small.
* Water quality impacts are similar for all concepts. West facing islands will mean better air quality because the expressway serving the port will be located further from residential areas in Discovery Bay and on Peng Chau.
* While there are no great differences for traffic and transport arrangements, the Island
West will give better direct port access.
* From an on-shore and general planning viewpoint, Island West is compatible with
developments on Peng Chau and Discovery Bay.
* Island West will mean the lowest cost for Phase One development of the port. Comprising the first four berths of Terminal 10, this will be the most expensive phase. It will include flyovers, road junctions, interchanges and other infrastructure that must be in place before later phases begin.
Strategy Review
Throughout the year the PDB and the government's Planning Department, with the help of consultants, have been carrying out the Port Development Strategy Review.