Case for third runway at Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok needs to be aired

The public can be excused for feeling confused about the development of the airport's third runway. Despite the environmental go-ahead for the plan in November, there appeared to be no progress until last month, when Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah said construction could begin as early as next year. By 2030, our airport could handle 100 million passengers and nine million tonnes of cargo annually, he said. But the question of who will foot the estimated bill of HK$136 billion remains unanswered.

It emerged that the project has been clouded with further uncertainties. Like other major infrastructure projects, the proposed runway is facing a court challenge by environmentalists. Meanwhile, concerns over the financial arrangement are also mounting, with industry figures speaking out against the idea of charging passengers and airlines to help finance the construction cost. The Airport Authority, they argue, is rich enough to foot the cost. Separately, a former aviation chief also questioned the capacity of the future runway, saying it would hinge on the coordination of airspace in the Pearl River Delta.

That the project is still challenged by different sectors at this stage underlines the need for better explanation. The need for a third runway was first raised in a report almost 10 years ago. Serious consideration began in 2010, with a series of studies carried out by the authority. Five years have passed but the authority has yet to get broad public support.

Disputes are not unusual for a project of that scale. It involves complex aviation, finance, environment and planning issues. Our courts have good experience in handling whether major infrastructure projects can fulfil environmental protection requirements. The judicial review should not prevent officials from working out the funding arrangement. The issues raised by industry are valid. The government and the authority should hammer out more details for public debate. For work to begin, the government needs to demonstrate a greater sense of urgency in taking the project forward.

The relocation of the old airport to Chek Lap Kok 17 years ago was no less controversial. Today, few people would question whether we made the right decision. Our status as a regional aviation hub hinges on whether we can compete with other airports. As our rivals continue to expand, Hong Kong can not afford to stand still.