TNAG-0275-FCO40-311-Development-of-Kai-Tak-airport-at-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 83

13.

It is the Board of Trade's view that in the absence of

improvements at Kai Tak:

(a) the scope for increased use of the airport by BOAC would

be seriously limited; they would, for example, be unable

to operate the Boeing 747 through Hong Kong and there

would undoubtedly be a heavy loss in airline revenue;

(b) Kai Tak would become progressively of less value in air

services negotiations with, as a result, less "indirect

benefit" to British airlines;

(၁)

(a)

increase in airport revenue would be cut back;

the United Kingdom would be open to criticism inter-

nationally for failure to maintain the airport to the

standard which might reasonably be expected, by ICAO and

by the countries which have acquired traffic rights at

Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's Interest

14.

Undoubtedly Hong Kong will itself derive benefit from the

projected development. Some of the improvements (e.g. to apron

parking area, terminal building, cargo facilities) are in any case

necessary to meet the growing traffic provided by existing services.

The extended services to be provided by the new generation of aircraft

(for which runway lengthening is considered necessary) must lead to

increased tourist traffic: at present some half million tourists

annually spend an estimated £15-20 million in Hong Kong; and there

must be general and less tangible advantages to the economy in

improved facilities for business and trade contacts with other

countries.

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