Airport Authority under pressure to lift lid on commercial project

Four board members of the Airport Authority have called for details about options to develop a commercial project, putting pressure on the management to lift the lid on its inner dealings.

The calls came as media this week exposed a feud between the authority chairman and his likely successor over the project on the airport premises.

At stake is the proposed construction of a third runway, which may be delayed further if a depot for a driverless electric train is built near it.

If, however, the depot is set up under the commercial project - as chairman Marvin Cheung Kin-tung has insisted on - detractors including his perceived replacement Vincent Lo Hung-sui fear it will devalue the 120,000 square metre site, which is to feature hotels and a shopping centre.

Four of the 16 board members approached by the South China Morning Post yesterday voiced concerns about the development, to be called the North Commercial District.

All four said more data was necessary before any decision could be made.