A SENIOR official has admitted Kai Tak and later Chek Lap Kok could lose passengers and cargo to Macau's $9 billion airport.
But Secretary for Economic Services Gordon Siu Kwing-chue, speaking yesterday before Macau's airport was officially opened by Portuguese President Dr Mario Soares, said any impact would be short-lived.
'In the short term, it will relieve part of the pressure at Kai Tak. In the longer term I do see both the Hong Kong market and the Macau sector growing,' he said.
'Macau airport is not just serving Macau itself, but the western part of the Pearl River Delta. There is room for everybody. We hope the visitors using Macau airport will visit Hong Kong and the delta areas at the same time,' he added.
About 3,000 people, including Governor Chris Patten and a 50-strong Chinese delegation led by China's Vice-President Rong Yiren, braved bitterly cold winds for the two-hour opening ceremony. The Chinese group included the Vice-Foreign Minister, Tian Zengpei, and the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office Vice-Director, Wang Fengchao.
Another 2,000 people lined the airport approach road and hillsides nearby.
The celebrations began as lion dancers took to the runway and an 18-kilometre string of firecrackers was set alight.
