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COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

The breaking-up of the underwater section of the 'Seawise University' started in July, the work is expected to take a considerable time to complete, depending on difficulties encountered.

New and amended legislation effecting the work of the Marine Department amounted to 10 items. The most prominent of these was the new Port Control (Cargo Working Areas) Ordinance. In addition, the departmental legislative programme comprised a further 20 items at present under consideration.

Civil Aviation

Hong Kong International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Southeast Asia although, because of limitations imposed by the mountainous nature of the surround- ing terrain and the physical size of the area which it serves, the entire site amounts to only 550 acres. Much of this land has been reclaimed from the sea, including the 800 feet wide promontory on which the runway, recently extended to 11,130 feet, is built.

The airport is conveniently situated, close to the main commercial, hotel and shopping centres of Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon and Central on Hong Kong Island, both of which can be reached by road within 20 minutes. Taxis, hotel buses, and a private limousine service are available and at the end of 1974 it was anticipated that a public bus service would be inaugurated in the near future.

Geographically Hong Kong is strategically placed at the confluence of the rapidly expanding air traffic route network of Southeast Asia, and the major international airlines provide rapid communication with all the important world centres of com- merce, industry and tourism. The economic importance of the airport, as a factor in the continued growth and well-being of Hong Kong is therefore readily apparent. During the financial year 1973–4, a total of 3,662,943 arriving and departing passengers and 100,721 metric tons of freight passed through the airport. This represented, in each case, almost a 20 per cent increase over the previous year. Revenue from the airport during the same period amounted to $155 million.

More than 1,000 scheduled services are operated each week by 31 international airlines and almost 20 per cent of these services are now flown by wide-bodied aircraft. In addition a significant number of non-scheduled passenger and freight charter operations are operated.

Cathay Pacific Airways, a British owned airline registered in Hong Kong operates a comprehensive network of services throughout Southeast Asia and also to and from Australia-most flights by Boeing 707 aircraft. However, for the future the airline has placed an order for two Lockheed L-1011 Tristars and these are expected to be brought into use during 1975. Hong Kong's other airline, Hong Kong Air International, operates helicopter flights around the local area on many diverse tasks ranging from the lifting of heavy industrial and building equipment to passenger sightseeing tours of beauty spots.

Responsibility for the efficient management and development of Hong Kong International Airport rests with the Civil Aviation Department. With the escalation of construction costs, certain development projects, particularly in regard to the