ENG-1998 — Page 321

TRANSPORT

1925. Commercial air services at the new HKIA at Chek Lap Kok began a few hours later, with the first landing at 6.27 a.m.

Hong Kong is a major international and regional aviation centre as well as a gateway to the Mainland of China. Air transport is an important link between Hong Kong and the rest of the world. The HKIA is one of the world's busiest. In 1998, a total of 27.4 million passengers (excluding 1.4 million in transit) passed through the old and new airports at Kai Tak and Chek Lap Kok. This was 3 per cent less than the 28.3 million in 1997 as a result of the decline in demand for air travel. A total of 1.64 million tonnes of cargo, valued at $597 billion, were handled, representing a decrease of 8.4 per cent and 8.8 per cent, respectively, when compared with 1.79 million tonnes and $654.9 billion in 1997. Goods carried by air accounted for about 24 per cent, 31 per cent and 17 per cent, in value terms, of Hong Kong's total imports, exports and re-exports respectively. The USA remained the major market for exports and re-exports by air, accounting for 34 per cent and 25 per cent respectively.

Compared with 1997, a decrease of 1.1 per cent in aircraft movements was recorded in 1998, bringing the annual total to 163 297, of which wide-bodied aircraft formed 81 per cent.

New Airport

The new HKIA at Chek Lap Kok is on a 1 248 hectare site on the northern side of Lantau Island and 28 kilometres west of Kai Tak. As part of the Airport Core Programme (ACP), a transport network comprising the Lantau Link and the Airport Express Railway provides convenient links between the new airport and the urban

areas.

The estimated cost for the first phase of the new airport was $70.3 billion. This comprised $49.8 billion for works of the Airport Authority, $5.1 billion for government facilities and $15.4 billion for facilities of franchisees from the private

sector.

The new airport has much better facilities than Kai Tak. Initially with one runway, the first phase of the new airport development is expected to be able to handle 35 million passengers and 3 million tonnes of air cargo a year. A second runway costing $4.3 billion for Airport Authority works and $600 million for government facilities is due to come into operation around mid-August 1999. The New Airport Master Plan forecasts that with incremental addition of other facilities such as passenger terminals and aircraft gates in response to demand, the new airport will be able to handle 87 million passengers and 9 million tonnes of air cargo each year upon full development. The new airport will contribute significantly to Hong Kong's economic growth well into the next century.

The new airport is managed by the Airport Authority. It is a statutory body established to provide, operate, maintain and develop the new HKIA. Certain key services continue to be provided by government, including air traffic control and aviation meteorological services. The Fire Services Department also helps to staff the aircraft rescue and fire-fighting units in the airfield. The Civil Aviation Department retains regulatory functions relating to aerodrome and aircraft safety.

The relocation of the HKIA to Chek Lap Kok was conducted in five phases. between May 6 and August 5, involving more than 3 000 vehicles and 30 barge movements. These included trucks, container lorries and special transport vehicles, as

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