ENG-1993 — Page 303

TRANSPORT

To improve ground access to the airport, a number of road works are being carried out. They include the provision of a roundabout connecting Concorde Road and Prince Edward Road East, a bridge crossing the Kai Tak Nullah, an upramp from Concorde Road, and further improvements to the transport terminus to increase taxi queuing space. The second floor of the airport's multi-storey carpark is being converted to a passenger set-down area to supplement the existing departures kerbside. This work is due to be completed in early 1994. The new passenger set-down area will be connected to the existing terminal building via an additional link bridge and two lifts, which are expected to be completed towards the end of 1994.

The runway resurfacing and regrooving works were completed in February 1993, two months ahead of schedule.

During the year, 10 additional parking bays for B747-sized aircraft and two new taxiway bridges, which provided a taxiway system linking the new South Apron with the runway, were brought into operation. Construction of one more B747 parking bay on the South Apron also commenced, with completion expected in June 1994.

A computerised aircraft parking bay allocation system was commissioned in August. The system automates the assignment of parking bays, optimising the utilisation of the aircraft parking areas.

As part of a continuing process to upgrade security at the airport, work commenced in November to replace the airport perimeter fence. This is expected to be completed in late 1994. Tenders for an Integrated Access Control and Permit Production System were called in June. This system, when fully operational in May 1994, will facilitate the issue of airport permits and enhance access security.

The Airport Fire Contingent took delivery of a specially-designed low draught fire rescue vessel that can pass underneath the newly-completed Taxiway Bridge No. 3, linking the South Apron with the runway. This ensures that adequate fire and rescue cover is provided in waters surrounding the runway promontory. To further enhance the fire-fighting and rescue capability at Kai Tak, a contract for an additional fire appliance equipped with a jackless hydraulic rescue platform was concluded in November. Delivery is expected in late 1994.

Air Services

Hong Kong is home to three international airlines. During the year, Cathay Pacific Airways (CPA), the largest of the three, commenced scheduled passenger services to Cairns and Colombo in October, and to Mauritius in November; and scheduled cargo services to Vancouver in October. To cope with the increasing scale of its operations, CPA acquired three B747-400s and one L1011. At the end of 1993, its fleet comprised 19 L1011s, seven B747-200s, six B747-300s, 17 B747-400s and four B747-200 freighters a total of 53 aircraft.

Hong Kong Dragon Airlines (Dragonair) continued to operate scheduled services to seven cities in China and four other destinations in Asia, together with non-scheduled passenger services to a number of other cities, mostly in China and Japan. The airline commenced scheduled services to Phnom Penh, Kota Kinabalu and Sendai in August, October and December, respectively, and regular passenger charters to Ningbo in June; but suspended its scheduled service to Kathmandu in January. With the completion of its B737 replacement programme, Dragonair now operates six A320 and two L1011 aircraft.

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