XN000022-1995-01-18 — Page 56

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Construction insurance for new airport

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Samuel Wong Ping-wai and a written reply by the Secretary for Works, Mr James Blake, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It is learnt that the reclaimed land on which the Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan is sited has been continuously subsiding since the airport came into operation. This has led to many people in the territory worrying about whether the same problem would happen in the Chek Lap Kok New Airport. Although officials from the New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office have stated that the soil of the two sites and the reclamation methods employed are different, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

whether it will consider requiring the Provisional Airport Authority (PAA) and the contractors for the project to take out insurance for the runways during the construction period and after they are brought into use, so that adequate compensation can be claimed to cover the repair cost of the runways and associated facilities in case of a subsidence; and

whether, in considering the safety and operation of the runways, the PAA will, apart from adopting the design provided by the project consultants or contractors, invite a third party such as an insurance company to conduct an independent assessment of the safe operation of the runways; if not, what the reasons are?