THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME
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owned statutory body and conducts its business according to prudent commercial principles. It will continue with the work of the PAA in the provision and construction of the new airport, and will be responsible for the airport's future operation.
The new airport at Chek Lap Kok is set to expand on the quality and range of aviation services currently available at Kai Tak. It will open with the first of its two runways, and could operate 24 hours a day. It will be able to handle 35 million passengers and three million tonnes of air cargo annually. The airport facilities have been designed to be expanded in stages, ultimately serving 87 million passengers and handling nine million tonnes of cargo a year.
Construction progress
A notable achievement was the completion of the 1 248-hectare airport platform in mid-June, after 31 months of reclamation and excavation. Work also began in many
new areas.
At the beginning of the year, the $10.1 billion terminal building contract, the largest contract in the ACP, and the $1.88 billion contract for building services in the terminal building were awarded. The $2.61 billion airfield works contract was awarded in April 1995. The awarding of these major contracts brought the level of construction activities on the airport island towards its peak.
- Passenger terminal building
The passenger terminal will be the focal point of the new airport and provide a dynamic gateway to Hong Kong. Its architecture, inspired by the concept of flight, is being matched by service innovations focused on passenger convenience and technical performance.
More than 1.2 kilometres long with a gross floor area exceeding 490 000 square metres, the terminal will provide 30 000 square metres of space in the departures and arrivals areas and concourses for more than 150 commercial and retail outlets and services. It will connect with a ground transportation centre, which will provide the new airport with integrated road and rail systems and related facilities. The contract for construction of the centre was awarded in December.
Commercial franchises and operations
Commercial opportunities at the new airport will be as diverse as Hong Kong's own economic profile. The Authority will encourage the private sector to provide a world- class, user-friendly airport with support services at competitive prices for all airport users: passengers, air cargo shippers, commercial franchisees and concessionaires alike.
The franchises for air cargo, aircraft catering and aviation fuel supply system were either awarded in 1995 or were about to be awarded in early 1996. The franchise award process for other major support services in respect of aircraft maintenance and ramp handling also reached an advanced stage. All these services will have more than one franchise in order to provide competition and choice for airport users. An exception is the aviation fuel supply system where competition will be ensured through the provision of open access to the fuel facilities by all qualified aviation fuel suppliers.