WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1993
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NEVERTHELESS, THE ADMINISTRATION RECOGNISES THE NEED TO DO ALL WE CAN TO REDUCE TO THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM THE ADDITIONAL DISTURBANCE WHICH MAY BE CAUSED AS A RESULT OF CANCELLATION OF THE "OPPOSITE RUNWAY" MODE. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ENERGETICALLY TO THAT
END. AN INTER-GOVERNMENTAL TASK FORCE HAS BEEN SET UP TO CONSIDER AND IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO REDUCE THE LEVEL OF NOISE TO THOSE LIVING UNDER OR ADJACENT TO THE FLIGHT-PATH. A NUMBER OF MITIGATING MEASURES ARE BRING EXPLORED AND CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE. WE HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, AS A RESULT OF EFFORTS BETWEEN THE TASK FORCE AND AIRLINES, SECURED ARRANGEMENTS TO BRING FORWARD THE LANDING TIMES FOR 42 LATE EVENING FLIGHTS PER WEEK. OF THESE, THE SCHEDULES FOR 32 FLIGHTS HAVE ALREADY OR WILL SOON BE ADJUSTED SO AS TO ARRIVE BEFORE RATHER THAN AFTER 10.30 PM.
WORK WILL CONTINUE TO TRY AND BRING FORWARD LANDINGS STILL FURTHER FOR THE 1994 SUMMER OPERATING SEASON. I HAVE ΤΟ ADVISE MEMBERS, HOWEVER, THAT I DO NOT ENVISAGE THAT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO RE-INSTATE THE "OPPOSITE RUNWAY" MODE IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, CERTAINLY NOT UNTIL WE CAN BE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT THIS MODE WILL POSE NO RISK WHATSOEVER TO AIRCRAFT SAFETY.
ON THE ISSUE OF REDUCING THE NOISE LEVEL FROM AIRCRAFT, IT IS THE
BESSION ADMINISTRATION'S INTENTION TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION THIS WHICH WILL PROGRESSIVELY TIGHTEN CONTROLS ON THE EMISSION OF NOISE BY REQUIRING AIRCRAFT USING KAI TAK TO COMPLY WITH MORE STRINGENT STANDARDS.
I HAVE OF
THE
TAK
IS THERE MEMBERS
MR PRESIDENT, BOTH THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION AND GIVEN
PUBLIC UNDERTAKINGS. TWO
FIRST, THE CANCELLATION "OPPOSITE RUNWAY" MODE OF OPERATION WILL NOT BE A MEANS OF INCREASING,
THE NUMBER SURREPTITIOUSLY,
KAI OF LANDINGS AND TAKE-OFFS AT BETWEEN 9 PM AND MIDNIGHT. SECONDLY, BEFORE ANY CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SCHEDULED FLIGHTS AFTER 9 PM WILL BE FULL PUBLIC CONSULTATION INCLUDING CONSULTATION WITH OF THIS COUNCIL. WE STAND BY BOTH UNDERTAKINGS.
TODAY,
I DO HAVE A SIMPLE REQUEST TO PUT TO MEMBERS. FEW REMAINING YEARS WHEN OUR AIRPORT WILL STILL BE AT KAI TAK, DO PLEASE
AND MORE PRESSURE ON THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION PUT OF TEAM
HARD-WORKING AND
CONTROLLERS. CONSCIENTIOUS AIR TRAFFIC RATHER, LET US WORK TOGETHER CONSTRUCTIVELY TO KEEP TO THE MINIMUM THE OF DISTURBANCE TO HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHICH SADLY WILL REMAIN A FACT LIFE UNTIL THE OPENING OF OUR NEW AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK.
IN
THE
NOT HIS
THANK YOU MR PRESIDENT.
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