TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1982
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THE LAYOUT OF THE MODULES IS TO ACHIEVE SHORT WALKING DISTANCES FOR PASSENGERS WITH SIMPLIFIED CHECK-IN AND BAGGAGE SORTING PROCEDURES. THEIR UTILISATION IS ARRANGED TO PERMIT FLEXIBLE AND ECONOMIC USE OF THE FACILITIES TO RESPOND TO THE VARIATIONS OF TRAFFIC DEMAND ROUND THE CLOCK AND TO THE ANNUAL PROGRESSIVE INCREASES OF PASSENGER DEMAND.
EACH MODULE OF THE TERMINAL SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE OVER 3 800 PASSENGERS PER HOUR AND, AT THE PEAK HOUR, THE FOUR MODULES OPERATING TOGETHER WILL BE ABLE TO PROCESS OVER 15 000 PASSENGERS, EQUIVALENT TO THE PASSENGER LOADS OF MORE THAN 50 LARGE AIRCRAFT. BESIDES THE GATE AND REMOTE STANDS FOR THESE AIRCRAFT, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL APRONS FOR THE LONG-TERM OR OVERNIGHT PARKING OF AIRCRAFT AND FOR THOSE USING THE CARGO AND MAINTENANCE FACILITIES.
STUDIES TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED AIRPORT ON THE ENVIRONMENT HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT. THE FLORA AND FAUNA OF CHEK LAP KOK HAVE BEEN SURVEYED TO IDENTIFY NECESSARY PROTECTIVE MEASURES.
THE EXTENT OF AIR WATER POLLUTION AND THE LEVEL OF NOISE HAVE ALL BEEN ASSESSED, WITH ENCOURAGING RESULTS WHICH CONFIRM THAT WITH THE PLANNED APPROACH AND DEPARTURE ROUTES LARGELY OVER WATER THE REPLACEMENT AIRPORT SHOULD HAVE MINIMAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT UPON ADJACENT LAND AREAS. IN THIS RESPECT, IT WILL BE MORE FAVOURABLE THAN MOST OTHER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY HAS CONTINUED TO ACCUMULATE METEOROLOGICAL AND OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA, WITH THE AID OF SPECIALLY ACQUIRED EQUIPMENT, THE DATA ARE BEING USED TO ASSESS WEATHER CONDITION IN THE CHEK LAP KOK AREA AND TO PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR THE CIVIL ENGINEERING DESIGN STUDIES.
THE FINAL PHASE OF THE STUDIES NOW IN PROGRESS WILL EVALUATE THE COSTS OF CONSTRUCTING AND OPERATING THE NEW AIRPORT. A SEPARATE FINANCIAL EVALUATION STUDY TO ASSESS THE OVERALL FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF THE PROJECT AND TO PROPOSE FUNDING OPTIONS STARTED EARLY IN MAY. THIS STUDY HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED BY THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT AND IS BEING CARRIED OUT BY A TEAM OF CONSULTANTS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SCHRODERS AND CHARTERED, WITH OTHER MEMBERS DRAWN FROM THE CHARTERED BANK AND FROM COOPERS AND LYBRAND.
THE REMAINING WORK ON THE CIVIL ENGINEERING STUDIES WILL BE MAINLY CONCERNED WITH COST ESTIMATES AND WITH SITE RECLAMATION AND THE INFRASTUCTURE DESIGN.
ALL STUDIES ARE DUE TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR AND THE RESULTS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PRESENTATION TO THE
GOVERNMENT EARLY IN 1983 SO THAT A DECISION CAN THEN BE MADE WHETHER OR NOT CONSTRUCTION OF THE REPLACEMENT AIRPORT SHOULD PROCEED.