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LEGISLATIVE Councillors have expressed concern about China's aviation system following Saturday's drama in which a damaged Dragonair aircraft had to abort a landing in Beijing and return to Hong Kong.

United Democrat James To Kun-sun said the incident posed a threat to China's bid to host the 2000 Olympics.

Mr To, who discussed details of the nightmare flight with party members yesterday morning, called on China to improve safety and security at mainland airports if it wanted to win greater international support.

''This incident does not give a very favourable recommendation,'' he said.

''It is alarming. There are weaknesses in the system. It is a bit worrying for the Olympic Games.'' Mr To was responding to news that the Lockheed L1011 TriStar suffered damage to its nose cone and cockpit windscreens when it hit an electrical hailstorm as it was about to land at Beijing airport on Saturday evening.

Among the 300 passengers on board Flight KA330 was Sir Rob in McLaren, the British Ambassador to Beijing and chief negotiator with China on Hong Kong's future.

  The pilot was told to re-route and, after negotiating with Beijing air traffic controllers, decided to return to Hong Kong where he could rely on Kai Tak's automatic landing system.

  In a statement yesterday, Dragonair said: ''While turbulence of this severity is always alarming, the passengers on board the flight were, at no time, in any danger. All aircraft are able to withstand such storm damage.

  ''The damage to the aircraft was purely superficial. There was no structural damage which could affect the performance of the aircraft.''   Dragonair staff filed a report of the incident with the Civil Aviation Department (CAD).

  CAD director Peter Lok Kung-nam said a mandatory investigation would be undertaken.

  ''There was some pitting of the airframe, but there was no damage affecting the structural strength or performance characteristics of the aircraft, which would have warranted investigation as an accident,'' he said.

  The L1011 used for Saturday's flight was between 16 and 18 years old. After repairs on Sunday it was re-commissioned and flew out a full complement of 299 passengers to Beijing at 4.10 pm yesterday.

  It is understood that China has just three airports with an Instrument Landing System (ILS), which allows planes to land on automatic pilot.

  The airports with ILS are Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai, where the system has been shut down for repairs.



Concern over aviation system