TNAG-0962-FCO40-1181-Possible-new-airport-for-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 51

G.F. 326

CONFIDENTIAL #3

4.

2 -

The essential characteristics of an

airport to replace Kai Tak are that it should :

(a) have two runways with room for

further expansion;

(b)

be capable of 24-hours-a-day operation

every day of the year;

(c)

have good and speedy access to and

from central Hong Kong;

(a)

be capable of handling 25 million

passengers and 1.2 million tonnes

(e)

of cargo a year when fully developed

(based on estimates of demand in

1995); and

meet all international requirements

as regards safety of operations.

5.

The most suitable site would be on

reclaimed land on the north of Lantao Island

(Chek Lap Kok). The runways would run roughly

East-West and have approaches over water. The

cost for two runways would be about £620 million

(1979 prices). All the requirements listed in

paragraph 4 would be met. The difficult one would

be (c). To provide access to central Hong Kong

would involve building three bridges and an access

road from the mainland to Lantao Island at a cost

of £286 million (1979 prices) which, as it would

permit substantial development of North Lantao,

would by no means be wholly a charge to the airport.

CONFIDENTIAL #

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