XN000022-1972-08-22 — Page 5

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Tuesday, August 22, 1972

Conversely, he asked if tourism were severely curtailed with the

resultant loss of air services, whether this would detract from Hong Kong's

position as a commercial, industrial and financial centre in this region.

"Or, tourism aside, if we opt out of the mainstream of air communication,

do we also opt out of the mainstream of economic and social development?"

Mr. Thomson expressed his confidence that the opinion of the public

as well as the industrial and business community would be sought as "inpute" to

the study.

He said one of the basic objectives of the study was to present the

problems of the future of Hong Kong's air transport system in such a manner

that the Government would be able to appreciate the effect of adopting a particular

course of action both on civil aviation and the economic life of the Colony.

Difficulties

As regards the immediate future, the Director cautioned that the next

three or four years would be "very difficult years" because of the problems

associated with the second major phase of development now in progress at the

airport.

Some degree of congestion, delay and inconvenience would be experienced

by passengers as massive construction work proceeded, but he assured that every

effort would be made to minimise the effect of the works and the expected

difficulties.

Mr. Thomson said the current phase of development programme, which

included the runway extension, would expand the airport to roughly double its

present size in terms of capacity.

/When