CARGO and luggage were yesterday removed from the China Airlines jumbo jet moored in Victoria Harbour, in readiness for its lifting ashore later this week.
Salvage experts want to make the plane as light as possible before its removal from its current location, 300 metres from the end of Kai Tak runway.
The 2.3 tonnes of aviation fuel on board will also be removed from the tanks in the wings to make the operation less dangerous.
A giant floating crane is likely to be used by the Hong Kong Salvage and Towage Company to lift the Boeing 747-400 to an airport apron opposite the runway.
The plane, which weighed about 240 tonnes when it skidded off the runway on landing in severe weather conditions 12 days ago, should be at least 50 tonnes lighter for the lifting operation.
A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Department said even seats could be removed to aid the recovery process.
