288 Transport
CAD continued its discussion with the civil aviation authorities of the Mainland and Macao on measures to improve the efficiency of air traffic operations in the Pearl River Delta area. The tri-partite working group met on five occasions in the year to identify long-term solutions and interim measures to rationalise air traffic management to support air traffic growth in the PRD region.
CAD joined forces with the People's Liberation Army Forces in the HKSAR and various government departments to conduct a local search and rescue exercise from August 17-22. The exercise served to enhance the preparedness and capability of all parties concerned in the event of emergency search and rescue exercises.
Aircraft Operations and Airworthiness
CAD signed a 'Technical Arrangement on Aviation Maintenance' in December with the Civil Aviation Directorate of Transport Canada for mutual recognition of approvals of maintenance organisations. CAD has entered into similar mutual recognition agreements with CAAC, the Civil Aviation Authority of Macao and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.
Aircraft Noise Management
In Hong Kong, the impact of aircraft noise is assessed on the basis of the internationally accepted Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) Contour. The determination of the contour takes into account factors including the decibel levels of aircraft noise, its tonal characteristics and the duration and frequency of overflying flights at different times of the day. Currently, the aircraft noise standard adopted in Hong Kong is the NEF 25 contour.
CAD continued with its efforts to minimise the impact of aircraft noise on local communities by introducing noise abatement arrival and departure procedures and adopting flight paths which cover fewer residential areas whenever possible. The department also prohibited the operation of noisy aircraft which do not comply with the noise standard stipulated in the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
Aviation Security
Amendments to the Aviation Security Ordinance came into effect on November 10, 2005. The amendments seek to impose criminal sanctions against unruly or disruptive behaviour committed on board civil aircraft and to extend Hong Kong's jurisdiction over certain offences committed outside Hong Kong on board non-Hong Kong-controlled aircraft, if its next place of landing is Hong Kong.
Three officers from the department continued to participate as auditors in the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) Universal Security Audit Programme and had completed aviation security audit missions for India, Palau, Japan and Australia.
Participation in the ICAO
A CAD officer was seconded to the Office of Representative of People's Republic of China on the Council of ICAO in February 2005. The secondment facilitates