TRANSPORT
252
Civil Aviation
It was another year of strong growth, both in passenger and cargo throughput, at Hong Kong International Airport, at Kai Tak.
A total of 24.5 million passengers passed through the terminal, an increase of 10.9 per cent over the 22.1 million in the previous year.
Some 1.14 million tonnes of cargo, valued at $390,096 million, were handled, compared with 956 906 tonnes, valued at $332,655 million, in 1992. Air transport continued to play an important role in Hong Kong's external trade. Of Hong Kong's total trade in imports, exports and re-exports, air transport carried about 19 per cent, 30 per cent and 14 per cent in value terms, respectively. The United States remained the major market for exports and re-exports by air, accounting for 38 per cent and 27 per cent, respectively.
An increase of 11.7 per cent in aircraft movements was recorded in 1993, bringing the annual total to 135 100, of which 78 per cent were wide-bodied aircraft.
On November 4, a Boeing 747 aircraft from Taipei overran the runway at Kai Tak on landing and ended up in Victoria Harbour. At the time, Hong Kong was affected by weather associated with Severe Tropical Storm Ira, which was some 300 nautical miles to the south-southwest. All 296 passengers and crew of the China Airlines jet were rescued. Twenty-three passengers were sent to hospital for observation or treatment and two were admitted in fair condition. None of the crew was injured. An investigation team is looking into the cause of the accident.
Following three incidents involving a loss of standard separation between aircraft in the first six months of the year, the Director of Civil Aviation commissioned the United Kingdom's Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA) Air Traffic Control Inspectorate to carry out an independent audit of air traffic control procedures at the airport. Among other findings, the UKCAA Inspectorate pointed out that the opposite runway' mode of operating at Kai Tak posed a hazard to flight safety and recommended that it be withdrawn as soon as possible. Based upon this advice, the Director of Civil Aviation suspended this mode of operation with effect from October 29.
Improvements to Hong Kong International Airport
The programme of improvements to the airport at Kai Tak, which started in 1988, is expected to continue until 1994. It is aimed at enabling the airport to meet continuing high growth in passenger and cargo throughput until the commissioning of the new airport at Chek Lap Kok in 1997.
In February, work started on the construction of additional accommodation for airline commercially important persons, to replace an existing facility. Upon its completion in the first quarter of 1994, the area occupied by the existing facility will be converted into a waiting area.
Other improvements being implemented within the passenger terminal building include the widening of the departure pier in the departure lounge, the construction of an additional bus dock to serve passengers transferring to aircraft positioned on outer parking bays, and the installation of escalators for disembarking passengers.
A new Check-in Information Display System was commissioned and brought into use in the middle of the year. To further optimise check-in counter utilisation, a computerised Check-in Counter Allocation System is being planned for implementation in early 1995.