HONGKONG (August 7): EXPERTS from the Department of Civil Aviation and an American aviation consultancy firm have pin-pointed a site for a massive $5,000 million airport complex to replace Kai Tak.
Although the site is being kept top secret it is believed to be on Lantao. The area was selected - after the investigators had examined and ruled out 15 other sites - as the only possible site for a new airport.
If the Government gives the go-ahead for the project it will be a massive development, comparable in size, scope and expense to the mass transit scheme.
The preliminary investigation should be finished by the end of the year. All going well, the airport could conceivably be operating within 10 years - but it is believed there will be a major debate within the Government about such a massive and costly project.
Statistics clearly show the need for a major new airport to replace Kai Tak.
Last year, more than 3.5 million people passed through Kai Tak. If the aviation industry grows at the same rate, the number would reach a staggering 45 million by 1994.
Even if the world economic situation restricted international civil aviation, there would still be at least 20 million visitors flying into Hongkong every year in the 1990s.
