No extension to the operating hours of the airport
The Administration has decided not to pursue the proposal for an one hour extension to the operating hours of the Kai Tak airport suggested in the consultation document on maximising Kai Tak capacity in the light of the strong body of public opinion against the proposal, and, in particular, the concerns expressed about the possible impact on the health of residents, the acting Secretary for Economic Services, Mrs Elizabeth Bosher, said today (Wednesday).
In other words, the existing curfew on landings and take-offs between mid- night and 6.30 am will be maintained.
Replying at the Legislative Council meeting to the motion on "Aircraft movements at Kai Tak Airport", Mrs Bosher said on the other hand, the Administration had not yet reached any final decisions on whether to implement some increase in the number of landings and take-offs in the hours of 6.30 to 7 am and 9 to 11.30 pm.
She said: "We believe that before final decisions on this issue are taken, further work should be carried out to see whether there are ways of reducing still further the disturbance to residents - not just from possible additional flights, but also from existing aircraft movements.
Mrs Bosher said steps had already been taken to reduce noise disturbance caused by existing flights. The Director of Civil Aviation already monitors strictly the time-keeping of late evening movements and takes action, when necessary, with the airlines concerned.
Further measures will now be examined in greater details.
These measures will include a more detailed assessment of the degree of noise nuisance to the residents in particular areas; the possible installation of more sophisticated noise monitoring equipment, to help ensure that aircraft operate in accordance with the relevant noise abatement procedures; and the establishment of more effective procedures for the recording and investigation of complaints from the public about aircraft noise.
"Once we have completed examination of these issues, the next step will be for the Administration to seek the advice of the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) on the impact of the possible introduction of additional flights between 6.30 am to 7 am and between 9 - 11.30 pm," she said.