The public consultation on building a third runway of the Hong Kong International Airport is expected to start in the first half of this year, an official of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said Wednesday.
Secretary for Transport & Housing Eva Cheng told legislators that the Airport Authority is formulating the Hong Kong International Airport Master Plan 2030 on airport developments in the next 20 years, exploring the feasibility of building a third runway and conducting preliminary studies.
The studies include preliminary environmental impact assessment, such as reviewing and updating the Noise Exposure Forecast 25 contours on the basis of the latest airport design capacity.
The Noise Exposure Forecast contours, an aircraft noise-related standard in land planning, are used to define areas where certain noise-sensitive land uses should not be located.
She said the studies have been substantially completed and the Airport Authority is drafting a study report. The Airport Authority will release the study report and a consultation paper and invite the public and stakeholders to comment on the strategies and directions of airport development from the first half of 2011.
According to a report issued by the think tank Hong Kong Ideas Center (HKIC) last month, the Hong Kong International Airport is the busiest airport for cargo throughput and the third busiest airport for international passenger traffic in the world.
As the airport's two runways will reach full capacity by 2017, the HKIC urged "Green Light" for a Third Airport Runway, with decision based on full consideration of both public interests and environmental concerns.