INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
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NAPCO, the Civil Aviation Department and other key agencies, including the Police, Transport Department, Marine Department, Highways Department and Hong Kong Observatory, and the AA's many business partners.
Commencement of operations at the new airport
The new airport, which cost an estimated $70.3 billion (excluding the second runway) in money-of-the-day values, began operations on July 6 and is able to handle 35 million passengers and three million tonnes of cargo a year. Its facilities will be expanded and it is forecast to be able to handle up to 87 million passengers and nine million tonnes of cargo each year.
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Problems relating to passenger and cargo services were encountered upon airport opening. Disruption to both passenger and cargo flows resulted, although airport operations remained safe and secure. Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited announced on July 9 an embargo on all cargo except inward perishables, inward and outward news, lifesaving materials and strong-room items in order to clear its backlog of cargo held at SuperTerminal One and allow time for the company to rectify software and mechanical problems. Immediate action and continuous hard work by the AA, government departments, cargo franchisees, airlines and ramp handlers, brought passenger services up to an acceptable level within the first few days and full cargo handling services resumed at the new airport in phases by mid-August. Services at the new airport have steadily improved to a level comparable to or even better than that of the old Kai Tak Airport. Surveys carried out after the airport opening showed a high level of customer satisfaction with passenger terminal services.
In order to identify the causes of the initial airport operation problems, the Chief Executive in Council appointed a statutory Commission of Inquiry to conduct an investigation into the operations of the new airport upon its opening. The commission's findings will be available in early 1999. The Legislative Council, at its meeting on July 29, also decided to set up a Select Committee to inquire into the circumstances leading to the problems. On July 13, the Ombudsman announced that, owing to widespread public concern over the preparation work and management of the airport, he would initiate a direct investigation into the commissioning and operation of the new airport.
Transport Corridor
The ACP transport corridor is designed to cater for traffic to the new airport and to relieve congestion on existing roads. It comprises the Western Harbour Crossing (WHC), West Kowloon Expressway, Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi Sections of Route 3, Lantau Link, and North Lantau Highway.
The WHC is a dual three-lane immersed-tube road tunnel linking the West Kowloon Expressway with the Western District. It is a key part of the ACP transport corridor. The WHC was opened to traffic on April 30, 1997.
The West Kowloon Expressway runs 4.2 kilometres from the WHC to Lai Chi Kok. It serves developments on the West Kowloon Reclamation and helps relieve pressure on existing local roads. It was opened to traffic on February 19, 1997.
The Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi sections of Route 3 link the West Kowloon Expressway to the Lantau Link. They comprise the Kwai Chung Viaduct, Rambler