The lights were turned out at Kai Tak at 1.16 this morning, marking the end of the airport's 73-year history.
'Goodbye Kai Tak and thank you,' said Director of Civil Aviation Richard Siegel, before throwing the switch.
As the lights went out, hundreds of people worked through the night in a hectic 13-hour operation to move the last pieces of equipment to the new airport at Chek Lap Kok, 35km away.
The last pilot to fly out of Kai Tak was 51-year-old Kim Sharman, making his final flight before retiring.
'I came in for the last time a couple of days ago and all the nostalgia and memories have been flowing back,' said Mr Sharman, who flew CX251 to London, leaving at two minutes past midnight. He had landed at Kai Tak about 4,000 times.
'Being the last pilot out of Kai Tak will put me into history and it's a nice end to a career.' Chief Secretary for Administration Anson Chan Fang On-sang and Financial Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen watched the runway go dark. They will be at Chek Lap Kok this morning to welcome the first of 70,000 passengers expected to use the airport on its first day.