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The Task Force on Airport Co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen held its second meeting in Shenzhen today (May 19). The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, and the Vice-Mayor of Shenzhen, Mr Zhang Siping, co-chaired the meeting, at which the task force received progress reports from its two expert groups on an airport rail link and airport business co-operation respectively.
The Task Force has commissioned a consultancy study on the feasibility and economic benefits of connecting the two airports with a high-speed rail link under the guidance of the expert group on an airport rail link. The consultant reported on the progress of the study to the task force at today¡¯s meeting. The study is on schedule and is targeted for completion in 2008.
On airport business co-operation, the managements of the two airports signed a framework agreement on passenger facilitation at today¡¯s meeting, and agreed to implement the relevant projects as soon as possible. The co-operation projects between the two airports include setting up at the airport of the other side flight information panels, transit passenger counters and passenger lounges for transit passengers, and strengthening the ferry and road traffic connections between the two airports.
The expert group on airport business co-operation and the two airports will continue to explore measures to facilitate transfer of cargo between the airports and examine other co-operation initiatives.
Ms Cheng and Mr Zhang are satisfied with the progress on various fronts. The task force will continue to monitor the study on an airport rail link and to strengthen the co-operation of the two airports in other areas so as to create synergy between the complementary aviation networks of the two airports and foster closer co-operation between the two cities.
The first meeting of the Task Force on Airport Co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen was held in Hong Kong on January 17. Two expert groups to follow up on the rail link proposal and airport business co-operation were established. The two expert groups report their progress to the task force regularly.
Ends/Monday, May 19, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:25
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