Transport 287
AHK received two new A300-600 Freighters during the year and expanded its scheduled all-cargo services to seven destinations in Asia.
More non-Hong Kong airlines introduced scheduled passenger services to Hong Kong. In March, Sky Airlines started new services between Bangkok and Hong Kong, and Xiamen Airlines between Fuzhou, Wuyishan and Hong Kong. In April, Bangkok Airways started services between Samui and Hong Kong. In May, Sichuan Airlines launched its services between Chongqing and Hong Kong. In September, Shenzhen Airlines and Shandong Airlines launched their services between Nanning and Hong Kong and Yantai and Hong Kong, respectively and, in October, Siem Reap Airways started operating services between Phnom Penh and Hong Kong. Shanghai Airlines. opened its scheduled all-cargo services between Shanghai and Hong Kong in June.
Four airlines suspended their passenger services to Hong Kong during the year: Myanmar Airways between Yangon and Hong Kong and Japan Asia Airways between Taipei and Hong Kong in February. In October, Valuair suspended its Singapore/Hong Kong services and Transaero Airlines, its Moscow/Hong Kong services.
An environmental impact assessment was carried out to study the impact of the proposed expansion of the existing cross-boundary heliport at the Macao Ferry Terminal. The Government has decided to open the proposed government helipad planned for the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to commercial operators to provide them with a permanent landing facility. A technical feasibility study is to be conducted to take the project forward.
Updating of the Aviation Legislation
The Government continued to align Hong Kong with the latest international standards. The Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill 2005 was enacted to incorporate the provisions in the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air, signed at Montreal on May 28, 1999 into local law. The bill enhances legal protection for the travelling public and shipping community, provide a more clearly defined liability regime for airlines and help improve their operating efficiency.
The Civil Aviation (Amendment) Bill 2005 was also introduced into the Legislative Council to exempt aircraft owners who are not involved in the management of aircraft from the strict liability against claims made by third parties.
Air Traffic Control
The air traffic control system continued to perform in a stable and reliable manner. It handled 263 461 aircraft movements at HKIA and 125 686 overflights (including aircraft operating to and from Macao Airport), representing a respective 11.1 per cent and 7.5 per cent increase over 2004.
On March 9, the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) signed a service agreement with the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) on the shared use of the Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) and Very High Frequency (VHF) communications facilities at Xisha. Signals from Xisha have been relayed to CAD since June 1 to enhance the efficiency of air traffic control services.