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Port and Airport Development Strategy (PADS)
23. Last October, the Governor announced plans to build:
- a new international airport at Chek Lap Kok (north of Lantau), with the aim of opening the first of the two runways by early 1997. When completed, the new airport will be able to handle over 80 million passengers a year, over 3 times the maximum capacity of Kai Tak (and larger than the existing capacity of Heathrow and Gatwick
combined);
a system of roads and bridges, including a high speed rail system, linking North Lantau to Hong Kong Island; and
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new container terminals and other port facilities, which will result in a trebling of port capacity.
24. The new port and airport project and the road and rail links associated with it will be the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken in Hong Kong and one of the largest projects of its kind in the world. On a conservative estimate the cost is expected to be The Hong some £10 billion at current prices over the next 15 years. Kong Government believe that many of the individual projects connected with the new airport will be commercially viable and intend to seek private sector participation for 40-50% of the total development. The remainder will be financed by the Hong Kong
Government.
25. The Chinese have on several occasions expressed concern that PADS might become a financial burden on the future SAR Government. We are trying to reassure them on this point and to encourage Chinese participation in the project.
Hong Kong Department
15 March 1990
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