No_6_1954 — Page 59

KAI TAK TAK

AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT

The airport at Kai Tak was built The Department of Civil Aviation Aviation that the new runway should during the 1930's for the type of then reconsidered the development be so sited that it could be used for aircraft operating at that time. of Kai Tak and submitted their pro- take offs and landings in both direc- Although it was extended and im- posals to the Secretary of State in tions led to the evolution of the proved during the Japanese occupa- February 1951. After discussions in present proposals known as Scheme tion It was apparent when the London a party from the Ministry D. This provided for a single run- Colony was reoccupied that the exist- of Civil Aviation under the leader- way built on a promontory extending ing airport was unsuitable for the ship of Mr. R. Broadbent visited the approximately 2 miles into Kowloon operation of the 4-engined bomber Colony and recommended the deve- Bay. and transport aircraft which had lopment of alternative proposals for been developed during the war.

Since 1945 various sites have been considered and some have been in- vestigated in detail but nine years elapsed before a suitable site accep- table to all parties concerned could be found. This article gives a brief history of the events leading to the decision to develop the site in Kowloon Bay.

Kal Tak These involved the exten- The realisation of the relative slon of the present 07 Runway and values of reclaimed and existing the construction of a new runway land had altered the approach to the extending some distance into Kow- problem of site selection. It appear- loon Bay. Only one end of the run- ed that an airport constructed on ways could be used for take offs or land reclaimed from the sea might landings, the approaches at the op- prove as attractive as any scheme posite ends being completely ob- utilising the existing Kai Tak structed by hills.

airport to the full.

an

Messrs. Scott & Wilson, a firm of

A further investigation was there- consulting engineers. were then fore made of all shallow areas of sea When British Forces re-occupied engaged to make

engineering where reclamation would prove the Colony it was decided that a new appreciation of the Broadbent pro- economie, Although some five sites airfield should be built at an early posals but before carrying out their were considered only one proved at date capable of accommodating the investigation a further site at Stan- all promising. This site, Yau Ma Tì. four-engined bomber and transport ley was considered, at the request of was situated entirely in the

This south aircraft then used by the R.A.F.

of Stonecutters Island. It site had straight approaches but the possessed all the advantages of the quantity of rock excavation and other Stonecutters site. The approaches

the Director of Civil Aviation.

sea

from both east and west were

This

A site was selected in September 1945 in the Ping Shan Valley. Con- factors ruled it out. struction of this airfield was com- The engineering investigation of straight and practically clear of all menced early in 1946. By this time the Broadbent proposals was then obstruction. However, borings show- the Civil Authorities had become proceeded with. During this inves- ed that the firm sea bed was covered Interested in the proposed new air-tigation a significant fact emerged. with a 40 ft. layer of soft silt having field and a party was sent to the It was estimated that the cost of the consistency of toothpaste. Colony from the Ministry of Civil reclaiming land from Kowloon Bay presented many engineering pro- Aviation. This party advised against would be appreciably less than the blems and the estimated cost of the development of the Ping Shan sum derived from the sale of an developing this site was greatly in site as having too restricted approa- equivalent area of the existing Air- excess of the estimated cost of ches for the regular operation of port. This fact. together with a re- Scheme D. Further consideration of civil aircraft and proposed an alter- quest from the Director of Civil this site was therefore abandoned. native site known as the Deep Bay site adjoining the Ping Shan Valley. Construction of the Ping Shan pro- ject was then abandoned.

The Deep Bay site was not well placed in relation to the centres of population and in 1947 a proposal to develop Stonecutters Island was examined in some detail. It involved the levelling of Stonecutters Island and the construction of a single runway in an East West direction. The site had good approaches and it was considered that modern radio landing aids could function without interference from the surrounding hills. It was also conveniently placed in relation to Hong Kong and Kow- locn. However, in 1947 a party sent from the Ministry of Civil Aviation to advise on a site for a new airport. considered that the development of the Stonecutters site would involve considerable technical difficulties and would be too expensive. They also advised against the development of Kai Tak and recommended that the proposed Deep Bay project be proceed- ed with. A detalled engineering survey and report of the Deep Bay site was made during 1950 but this site had never been popular due to its isolat- ed position and for this and other reasons it was abandoned later in the year.

LAN

N.

DEEPS BAY.

= CEEP HAY.

TAO

PING CHAN

TERRITORIES

NEW

LANDLA

HONG KONG

MIRSBAYE

PORT SITES SHOWN THUS

MALES

POSSIBLE AIRPORT SITES

SCALE

(SEE TEXT)

55