The cessation of air communication with the China mainland had a marked effect on traffic figures and the number of passengers using the airport fell to one quarter of that of the previous year. The total was 32,000 arriving and 42,000 departing. To carry this traffic 440 aircraft on international flights arrived or departed each month. In addition there was much local flying and 200 movements a day were not unusual.
Two Hong Kong companies are at present operating airlines, Hong Kong Airways which has regular flights to Japan via Formosa, and Cathay Pacific Airways which has extended its services to include flights to Singapore, Thailand, Burma, Indo-China, the Philippines and North Borneo. B.O.A.C. have five flights a week to the United Kingdom, the journey to London taking 45 hours, and in addition international services are run by Canadian, Australian, American, French, Norwegian, Philippine and two Thai airline companies. There are also three Hong Kong registered companies which have aircraft available for charter and several foreign com- panies which use the airport for non-scheduled flights, one of which has a frequent service to Formosa.
The Department of Civil Aviation administers the airport including air traffic control, telecommunications and safety services. The airport charges remained at the same level as in previous years and compare favourably with those of neighbouring territories. The revenue from aircraft landing and accommodation fees fell from over one million dollars in 1949 to half that sum in 1950. An Air Advisory Board considers matters of policy relating to civil aviation, and regional air routes are licensed by the Air Transport Licensing Authority. New legislation and regulations were introduced and a new system of aircrew licensing came into effect on 1st December. An important technical advance in communication between the airport and aircraft in flight was achieved by the installation of high frequency radio telephony which in due course may take the place of telegraphic communication.
Hong Kong remains an important centre for the maintenance and overhaul of aircraft and the two major engineering companies this year amalgamated into one known as the Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company, Limited. Among their customers are Indian, Pakistani, Burmese, Chinese, French and Indonesian aircraft owners in addition to the regular airlines. Other activities which have continued are the training of pilots and aeronautical engineers.
There was no accident within the Colony which caused injury to any passenger and no Hong Kong registered air transport aircraft met with any accident.
A survey of a site for a new airfield on the south shore of Deep Bay was completed and proved that a major airport conforming to international standards could be built.
Meteorological Services
The Royal Observatory was founded in 1883, primarily with the object of providing typhoon warnings for the Colony; this is still its most important function. Storm warning bulletins are distributed
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