China Watch Blog

China Watch Blog has learnt that Hong Kong International Airport has once again been named the world’s “Best Airport” in the annual TTG Travel Awards – an award it has claimed every year since 2002, except in 2003 when the awards were not held, the Airport Authority announced today.

Cathay planes at HK Airport

Airport Authority Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hui said he was delighted that the airport has built such a solid reputation as a leading international airport.

“It’s a great honour to be recognised as the world’s best airport again by TTG readers. Clinching the award for 10 years proves that the airport has achieved an exceptionally consistent delivery of high quality service. The award is a great testament to the tireless efforts of our 65,000-strong workforce in the airport community, who strive to offer an enjoyable airport experience to the ever-growing volume of passengers. We will continue to upgrade our facilities and services to ensure pleasant and seamless journeys for all travellers using the airport.”

The TTG Travel Awards 2012 were voted by 60,000 readers of TTG’s print and online publications between June and August.

The awards have been held every year since 1989, with the exception of 2003 due to the SARS epidemic.

China Watch Blog has learnt that the Government has published a notice in the Gazette on Oct 20, 2011 on the proposed reclamation, road works and sewerage works for Hong Kong boundary crossing facilities relating to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge, boosting long term logistics services in the area.

The Chief Executive in Council has authorised the reclamation and road works, and the Director of Environmental Protection has authorised the sewerage works.

Reclamation for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge is proposed to form approximately 130 hectares of land for the construction of the bridge’s Hong Kong boundary crossing facilities, within an area of approximately 267 hectares of foreshore and sea-bed situated in waters off the north-east of the Hong Kong International Airport.

Road works for the bridge involve three projects, namely the road works for the Hong Kong boundary crossing facilities, for the Hong Kong link road and for the Tuen Mun – Chek Lap Kok link.

China Watch Blog has announced that GCTL Insights Magazine Issue No. 7 is out, highlighting various issues including the calls by various executives for the quick start up of Hong Kong’s third runway project.

Runway at HK Int'l Airport

As Hong Kong kicked off a three months consultation of the territory’s third runway project, there was a flood of press statements from Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) highlighting the need for a third runway.

A huge sum of money would have to be spent on reclamation of the land from the sea for this project, if it takes off the ground.

Hong Kong International Airport’s two present runways are expected to be saturated before 2020. As building a runway takes 12 to 13 years, airlines and aviation executives have been chipping away at this issue which the Hong Kong government has been trying to sweep under the carpet.