ENG-1971 — Page 34

REVIEW

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originally designed for a 'standard busy rate' of 720 passengers, can now cater for a 'standard busy rate' of 2,200. Modifications com- pleted in the summer of 1970 included the complete separation of arrival and departure traffic, the streamlining of passenger process- ing, and nose-in parking facilities for two jumbo' aircraft with direct loading and unloading from airbridges.

Like passenger traffic, air cargo has been increasing very rapidly for some years, as delays by surface transport become unacceptable or relatively too expensive. Only 5,500 metric tons of air cargo were handled in 1961, but this soared to 75,500 metric tons in 1971. The present freight terminal at the airport has a maximum capacity of 70,000 metric tons a year. A new air cargo terminal will therefore be built to replace the existing freight terminal and a consortium, with commercial and government participation, has been formed to build and operate it.

The present runway has a length of 8,350 feet but it was decided in early 1970 to extend it to a length of 11,130 feet to meet the requirements of the newest aircraft and to further improve its already good safety record.

A significant contribution to the passenger facilities of the port was made by the opening in 1966 of the Ocean Terminal at the tip of Kowloon peninsula. It provides berthing for four ocean-going liners and has a large and popular shopping centre, unified with a hotel, car park, cinema and commercial development, making the whole terminal the most convenient and refined in the world. The western harbour was extended and moorings provided for 20 more ocean-going vessels.

As in other world ports, the impact of the 'container revolution' is being increasingly felt in Hong Kong. Liner companies are gradually developing their capacity to handle containers, and a considerable breakthrough was made in the last year or two. Following the recommendations made by the Container Committee appointed to study this problem, the Government called for tenders in April 1970 for the development of a container terminal at Kwai Chung. As a result, three container berths, each 1,000 feet long with an alongside depth of 40 feet and with considerable back-up areas, should com- mence operations in 1972, and a fourth will also be developed. Self- sustaining and non-self-sustaining container ships are already using container-handling facilities at berths developed by private interests within the port. While waiting for the completion of the Kwai Chung Terminal, three companies have been providing interim facilities to container ships which call at Hong Kong.