XN000022-1985-12-05 — Page 16

THURSDAY,

T

15

ALL-TIME HIGH FOR AIR PASSENGER TRAFFIC

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FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ITS ANNUAL PASSENGER THROUGHPUT IS EXPECTED TO EXCEED THE 10-MILLION MARK, PROBABLY OVER THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR PERIOD.

+THAT WILL BE A MILESTONE IN THE LIFE OF KAI TAK,+ SAID THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION, MR TREVOR THORPE, TODAY.

+ IT IS ALSO NOW 50 YEARS SINCE THE SITE, DEVELOPED BY MR HC KAI AND MR AU TAK IN THE 1920'S, RECEIVED THE FIRST EVER SCHEDULED AIR SERVICE CONNECTING HONG KONG TO EUROPE,+ MR THORPE SAID.

TO COPE WITH THE CONTINUING INCREASE IN AIR PASSENGERS, MAJOR PROJECT TO DEVELOP THE FACILITIES AT KAI TAK HAS TEKAN A FURTHER STEP FORWARD FOLLOWING THE SIGNING OF A CONTRACT LAST WEEK FOR A SUBSTANTIAL EXTENSION TO THE PASSENGER TERMINAL BUILDING.

+CONSTRUCTION WORK FOR THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO COMMENCE ON SITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, AND JUST ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS THE 10-MILLIONTH PASSENGER ARRIVES, MR THORPE SAID.

THE WHOLE PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED IN 30 MONTHS' TIME BY 1988, WHEN THE TOTAL ANNUAL CAPACITY OF KAI TAK WILL BE INCREASED FROM THE PRESENT 12 MILLION TO 18 MILLION.

THE STAGE V DEVELOPMENT INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN EXTENSION OF THE TERMINAL BUILDING TO THE EAST TO PROVIDE A 50 PER CENT INCREASE IN PASSENGER PROCESSING CAPABILITY, INTERFACING AT BOTH ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES LEVELS WITH THE EXISTING BUILDING.

MR THORPE SAID: +AT DEPARTURES LEVEL, MAJOR FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED INCLUDE TWO MORE CHECK-IN ISLANDS PROVIDING A TOTAL OF 60 ADDITIONAL CHECK-IN COUNTERS, A SYSTEM FOR HANDLING GROUP AND OUTSIZE BAGGAGE, A NEW RESTAURANT AND NEW AIRLINE INFORMATION DESKS.

+ THE ENLARGED AIRS IDE LOUNGE AREA WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL OUTBOUND IMMIGRATION CONTROL DESKS, SECURITY SEARCH CUBICLES AND AIRSIDE CONCESSION FACILITIES. +

AT THE ARRIVALS LEVEL, INBOUND IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS CHECK FACILITIES WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED. TWO NEW BAGGAGE RECLAIM LOOPS WILL BE PROVIDED.

THE BUFFER HALL WILL BE ENLARGED TO PROVIDE A WAITING AREA FOR GROUP PASSENGERS,

MR THORPE SAID: +A TWO-STOREY OFFICE BLOCK WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ON TOP OF THE TERMINAL BUILDING EXTENSION TO PROVIDE 2 200 SQUARE METRES OFFICE ACCOMMODATION FOR GOVERNMENT USE AND FOR RENTING TO AIRLINES. +

/OVER THE

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