ENG-1982 — Page 254

TRANSPORT

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respectively. Japan took over the lead from the United States for the provision of imports and accounted for about 21 per cent of that total.

At the end of the year, 32 airlines were operating over 1000 scheduled passenger and cargo flights each week between Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, Europe, China the United States, Canada, South Africa, India, the Middle East, Australia, the South Pacific region and Asian countries. Five other airlines operated about 20 non-scheduled services to and from Hong Kong a week.

International aircraft movements totalled 54 635, representing a decrease of 1.4 per cent compared with the preceding year's total of 55 393. Nearly 80 per cent of the aircraft calling at Hong Kong International Airport were wide-bodied types, indicating a continuing trend by airlines towards the larger aircraft to meet increased traffic needs.

During the year, the Chinese flag carrier, the Civil Aviation Administration of China, started to operate to Hong Kong from an eighth city in China with the launching of charter flights from Xian. Royal Nepal Airlines introduced a new twice-weekly scheduled service between Hong Kong and Katmandu, stopping over in Dacca. A weekly joint service was also operated by Cathay Pacific Airways, Air Nuigini and Air New Zealand between Hong Kong and Auckland, calling at Port Moresby.

Hong Kong International Airport has continually been upgraded and expanded since the first major development, a new runway, was completed in 1958. Significant airport works completed during the year included the resurfacing and grooving of the runway, the installation of new runway centreline lights and the commissioning of a new aero- mobile centre.

Following the completion of the four-stage development programme for the passenger terminal building in late 1981, the planning of a new fifth stage of development is under way. The plan integrates enhanced facilities within the framework of existing facilities wherever possible and includes a new departures check-in building immediately east of the existing terminal building. This will increase the capacity of the passenger terminal building from 12 million to about 18 million passengers a year, and so meet the expected demand for processing facilities towards the end of the decade.

The replacement airport studies at Chek Lap Kok off northern Lantau progressed as planned and the project continued to receive detailed consideration within the government.

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