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Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, at a media session after chairing the first meeting of the Aviation Development and Three-runway System Advisory Committee at the ground floor lobby of the West Wing, Central Government Offices, today (September 8):
At the first meeting of the Aviation Development and Three-runway System Advisory Committee this afternoon, we discussed three main issues. First, the present progress of the three-runway system project and the challenges being faced by the Airport Authority (Hong Kong). The second item was review of the financial arrangement proposal for the three-runway system project, and the third item discussed was the plan for public communication and engagement.
By and large, members supported the three-runway proposal because they agreed that there was a need to strengthen Hong Kong's international aviation hub status and they recognised that to cope with long-term demand for aviation in the region and for Hong Kong, there is definitely a need for a third runway.
As to the future of the airport, members were of the view that we should make our airport one of the greenest in the world and plan the three-runway project and other developments at the airport in such a way that the ordinary public would feel that they are part of the process. So we would pay much attention to public communication and engagement, particularly with the younger generation who at the moment are quite concerned about the prospect of the three-runway project and in fact our younger generation will be the main beneficiary of the outcome of the third runway project.
We decided that at the next meeting, to be held in about two months' time, we should spend time on three main issues. First, conservation and environmental impact of the three-runway project. Secondly, labour supply issues, not only for the project but also for the operations of the airport island and the airport facilities. The third issue would be the Airport Construction Fee (ACF). By the next meeting, we expect that the Airport Authority will be able to come to a firmer conclusion as to how the level of ACF would be pitched. The main concern of the members at the meeting this afternoon was, while they supported at large the "user-pay" principle and the shared contribution, joint contribution principle, they would like to make sure that whatever ACF to be charged would not affect negatively the competitiveness of the Hong Kong International Airport vis-a-vis our neighbouring airports.
Reporter: Did the members express worries that the airspace problem could not be solved?
Secretary for Transport and Housing: Of course members realise that the optimisation of airspace over the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region would be critical to the ultimate target of the three-runway project in terms of runway capacity. But they also accept the consideration that the process of improving management and co-ordination over PRD airspace requires really detailed technical exchange and discussion among civil aviation authorities in the region.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:32
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