TNAG-2141-FCO40-3060-Hong-Kong-Port-and-Airport-Development-Strategy-(PADS)-1990 — Page 35

PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

1. Introduction

Hong Kong is an international financial and trading centre. It is also a major tourist centre and home to almost six million people.

It is essential that Hong Kong's port and airport facilities should be expanded if the future economic

growth of the SAR is not to be restricted. In order to provide a firm basis for Hong Kong's future prosperity, the

Hong Kong Goverment have therefore devised a strategy for

the long term development of Hong Kong's port and airport.

2.

Airport

(i) Need for a new airport

The studies commissioned by the Hong Kong Government

show that there is a clear case on economic grounds for building a new international airport to replace Kai Tak

as soon as possible. Even with the benefit of the current

HK$3.6 billion expansion package, Kai Tak airport will reach

saturation point by the mid 1990s. Unless a new international airport is built soon, it is estimated that

Hong Kong would lose business worth HK$101 billion (at

current prices) between 1996 and 2010. This would severely damage the economy of the Hong Kong SAR and its competitive position in the region. The objective is to open the first

runway at Chek Lap Kok in 1997.

BIFADF/1

CONFIDENTIAL