XN000022-1978-03-14 — Page 8

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TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1978

NEW PASSENGER SERVICE AREA AT AIRPORT OPENS TOMORROW

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A NEW PASSENGER SERVICE AREA WILL COME INTO USE AT THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) WITH THE OPENING OF THE BUFFER HALL FOR ARRIVING PASSENGERS.

THE BUFFER HALL ACCOMMODATES COUNTERS FOR THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION, THE HOTELS ASSOCIATION, THE TRAVEL AGENTS ASSOCIATION, A MONEY EXCHANGE SHOP AND TELEPHONE BOOTHS.

OCCUPYING ABOUT 11,000 SQUARE FEET, THE HALL IS LOCATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE EXTENDED PASSENGER TERMINAL. ARRIVING PASSENGERS WILL STEP INTO THIS SPACIOUS AREA AFTER PASSING THROUGH THE CUSTOMS CHECKPOINTS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE BUFFER HALL WAS DESIGNED TO CENTRALISE VARIOUS SERVICES FOR THE AIR TRAVELLING PUBLIC.

+TOURISTS IN PARTICULAR WILL NOW BE ABLE TO FIND THE NECESSARY SERVICES AND GUIDANCE FROM OFFICES ALL UNDER ONE ROOF,+ HE SAID.

THE BUFFER HALL WILL BE SOLELY FOR THE USE OF ARRIVING PASSENGERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE RESTRICTED FROM ENTERING.

FROM THIS AREA, PASSENGERS WILL LEAVE THE TERMINAL BUILDING BY WAY OF THE ARRIVALS HALL OR THE DIRECT GROUP EXIT.

ALONG WITH THE OPENING OF THE BUFFER HALL, A NEW ROW OF CUSTOMS CHECKPOINTS IN THE TERMINAL EXTENSION WILL ALSO EE BROUGHT INTO OPERATION. ALL CHECKPOINTS ARE INSTALLED ..ITH MECHANISED BAGGAGE CONVEYOR BELTS.

THE EXIT FROM THE CUSTOMS AREA AT PRESENT USED FOR ARRIVING PASSENGERS IN THE OLDER PART CF THE TERMINAL BUILDING WILL BE CLOSED. REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS PART OF THE PASSENGER TERMINAL WILL THEN START.

*THE OPENING OF THE BUFFER HALL WILL MARK ANOTHER STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+WHEN THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IS COMPLETED EY 1981 WITH THE OLDER PART OF THE TERMINAL BUILDING HODERNISED, THE PASSENGER HANDLING CAPACITY WILL RISE FROM THE PRESENT 4,500 PERSONS AN HOUR TO OVER 5,500 PERSONS AN HOUR,+ HE ADDED.

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