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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
Hong Kong Aviation Transport History" and an "Aviation Transport Theme Park", so that citizens may reminisce about history of aviation development in Hong Kong in the past 70 years.'
He said (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, with the commissioning of the new international airport at Chek Lap Kok, the aviation development of Hong Kong has stepped into a new era. Having completed its historical mission, the Kai Tak Airport, which is endeared by the people of Hong Kong because it grew up together with Hong Kong and contributed to the economic development of Hong Kong, has bid us farewell. In the past couple of months, tens of thousands of Hong Kong people flocked to the Kai Tak Airport, where they lingered. Particularly on 5 July, the day before the airport was closed, crowds of people gathered on building rooftops, pavements and the airport carpark to feel for themselves the impact of planes landing and taking off, to listen to the sharp noises of planes flying and to take shots of planes barely touching the tops of buildings. We have a particular sentiment for Kai Tak because being an international gateway, it was a place where many stories took place and where memories were recalled, with people leaving for emigration, studies, pleasure trips or on business and people coming back. There were sad partings and happy reunions. There were countless accounts of 'those were the days'.
As Members of the Urban Council, we readily share the feelings of the public. As an organization responsible for the recreational and cultural policies of the city, the Council should be aware of the expectation of the people, which is none other than maintaining this ‘sentiment' for Kai Tak. Hence the Council should urge the Government to carry out a study of the construction of a 'Museum of Hong Kong Aviation Transport History'. Making use of the opportunity of the airport removal, it should keep aviation facilities, documentation, articles and pictures which have a historical value and can be used for future exhibition. As long as the Government makes good use of them, plane hulks, spare parts and facilities which are no longer in use have a value for retention and can be used as practical aids for education and enrichment of knowledge of aviation. These physical materials can also be used to widen the horizon of the people of Hong Kong and allow them to reminisce about the development of aviation of Hong Kong in the past 70 years while providing a chance to look into the future development.
The Kai Tak Airport was named after Ho Kai and Au Tak. Ho Kai and his partner, Au Tak, jointly financed the reclamation and development of sites in Kowloon Bay as well as housing projects. Sir Ho Kai was a very important figure in the history of development of Hong Kong. Educated in the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, he was a doctor and barrister. He was one of the very few Chinese appointed to the Legislative Council in the early days. Being Dr. Sun Yat-sen's teacher in the Medical College of Hong Kong and a member of the Chinese Reform Society, he made valuable contribution to the
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£606.