TNAG-0841-FCO40-1050-Visit-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-Chi-1979 — Page 198

CONFIDENTIAL

BRIEF FOR THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO CHINA

Air Communications

Air Traffic Capacity at Kai Tak

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(a) Passenger Traffic

Air passenger traffic during the calendar year 1978 totalled 5,590,028. A level of 10 million annual passengers is considered the practical capacity of Kai Tak. If the growth rate in air passenger traffic over the next decade. turns out to be slightly in excess of 10%, then the level of 10 million annual air passengers would not be exceeded till 1985. However, the growth rate during 1978 was 14.1% and if that is maintained the level of 10 million annual passengers will be exceeded in 1983.

(b) Freight

Air cargo handled by Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd. (HACTL) during 1978 totalled 229,000 tonnes. This represents an increase of 24.4% over the previous year. The terminal has a design capacity of 400,000 tonnes per annum. The estimated growth rate for air cargo is approximately 15% per annum. At that rate, the design capacity will be reached in 1983, although the actual capacity will depend to some extent on the exact nature of the cargo handled. Land is available adjacent to the existing terminal to expand capacity by about 50%, that is, to 600,000 tonnes per annum. There should therefore be no difficulty over accommodating Chinese cargo.

CONFIDENTIAL

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