ENG-1975 — Page 186

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

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In October the Legislative Council agreed to the government guaranteeing the corporation's indebtedness, and by the end of the year tenders had been called for all contracts except one and work had started at four sites in North Kowloon.

Civil Aviation

Hong Kong International Airport at Kai Tak is one of the busiest and most efficient in Asia. It is also one of the smallest international airports in the world, covering only 550 acres. Because of the mountainous terrain, much of the land has had to be reclaimed from the sea-including the 800-foot-wide promontory on which the 11,130-foot-long runway is built.

The airport is less than three miles from the commercial, hotel and shopping centres of Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon and Central on Hong Kong Island—both about 20 minutes away by road. Taxis, hotel buses and a limousine service are available. Two public coach services also operate between the airport and Tsim Sha Tsui, and the airport and the Island. They are routed to pass the major tourist hotels in both districts. Representatives of the Hong Kong Tourist Association and Hotel Associa- tion meet all arriving flights to help visitors.

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The strategic position of Hong Kong at the hub of the air traffic route network of Southeast Asia makes the airport of considerable economic significance to the territory. It provides swift air links with all the world's major centres of commerce, industry and tourism. Its economic importance is illustrated by the fact that the value of goods exported by air in 1974-5 was $4,540 million. This represents more than 20 per cent by value of all goods exported from Hong Kong. Revenue from the airport during the year amounted to $168 million.

More than 900 scheduled services are operated each week by 32 international airlines and more than 20 per cent of these services are flown by wide-bodied aircraft. In addition, a significant number of non-scheduled passenger and freight charter flights 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. Currently the airline operates a fleet of 12 Boeing 707s and two Lockheed L-1011 Super TriStars. Hong Kong Air International operates local helicop- ter flights for various purposes-ranging from the lifting of heavy industrial and building equipment to passenger sightseeing tours.

Responsibility for the management and development of Hong Kong International Airport rests with the Civil Aviation Department. Airport terminal facilities include bars, restaurants, shopping arcades, banking and money changing services, and duty- free shops. These facilities are provided by private concerns operating under franchise. Income derived from them contributes substantially to the economic viability of the airport.

Passenger-handling facilities at the terminal building are currently overstretched during busy periods, coping with more than 3,000 passengers an hour while the design capacity allows for the effective processing of only 2,200. The first three floors of a