【Live】Liang Jingran, Executive Director of Hong Kong Airport Authority Three Runway Project
We are now in this position (third runway).
You can see that this runway has been completed. We plan to cooperate with the decision of the (SAR) government after the middle of this year (2022), so that we can conditionally put this new runway into operation.
[Explanation] On the eve of the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the reporter saw at Hong Kong International Airport that the much-anticipated third runway has been completed and is ready to go. This is an important milestone in the Hong Kong International Airport's three-runway system project.
The third runway is 3,800 meters long and 60 meters wide.
After being put into operation, the passenger and cargo capacity of the airport will be significantly improved.
[Concurrent] Lin Tianfu, Chief Executive Officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong
Three runways will play a key role in the entire "airport city".
Before the epidemic, we handled about 75 million passengers, traffic, and 500 metric tons of cargo, which can be said to be the limit of two runways.
If we continue to bring more people and goods to Hong Kong, if our entire "airport city" develops further, we must expand the capacity.
So with the addition of a runway, we are confident that we can handle 120 million people and 10 million metric tons of cargo.
It's very important to us both in terms of increasing the dynamics of the entire economy as a whole, and in terms of efficiency and competitiveness.
[Explanation] In the airport terminal, the reporter saw that the multi-functional robots shuttle back and forth, and the application of face-swiping technology to enter the station... The three-runway system is an important project in the vision of Hong Kong's transformation from "city airport" to "airport city".
In the project planning, in addition to the addition of runways, the airport facilities will also be fully upgraded, and an efficient and smooth smart airport is being formed.
[Concurrent] Lin Tianfu, Chief Executive Officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong
Face recognition technology has been fully rolled out. In the future, this effect can be achieved even with mobile phones, even without going to the airport.
And in the operation of the entire airport, we have now started to use digital apron, including digital control tower.
We were the first to use driverless trailers to tow luggage in 2018, and we also started using driverless patrol cars.
We hope that in the future there will be many different operations throughout the airport, all of which can be operated by automated artificial intelligence.
Our efficiency is the efficiency of the city of Hong Kong. Hong Kong is an economic city. We attach great importance to how to provide passengers with a better experience and better efficiency.
[Explanation] The construction of the three-runway system was launched in August 2016, with a budget of HK$141.5 billion. About 650 hectares of land will be reclaimed north of the existing airport island. The projects involved include the expansion of the No. 2 passenger terminal, the construction of a new passenger concourse, a Airport runways, new passenger rapid transit and baggage handling systems, and improvements to the existing road network and transport facilities.
The entire three-runway system is expected to be fully operational by 2024.
According to Lin Tianfu, the "airport city" is the intersection of Hong Kong's integration into the Greater Bay Area. Hong Kong International Airport is not only an airport in Hong Kong, but also an international airport in the Greater Bay Area.
[Concurrent] Lin Tianfu, Chief Executive Officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong
We are also experimenting with Dongguan, hoping to build a sea-air intermodal terminal in Dongguan.
We are also discussing cooperation with Zhuhai Airport to send our international guests to the mainland through Zhuhai, and the goods and guests from the mainland can also go to Hong Kong and then go abroad through Zhuhai.
After the expansion of our entire airport in the future, more guests and more foreigners will be able to use our airport, whether it is to drive our entire domestic demand market in the future, or to drive more investors to the mainland to go to the Greater Bay Area , will have a very positive effect.
[Explanation] Looking back on the development of Hong Kong since its return to the motherland 25 years ago, Lin Tianfu believes that Hong Kong relies on the motherland and makes progress together with the motherland.
The 14th Five-Year Plan outline clearly states that Hong Kong will be supported in enhancing its status as an international aviation hub.
He is full of confidence in the future development of Hong Kong's aviation industry.
[Concurrent] Lin Tianfu, Chief Executive Officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong
It can be said that in the 25 years since our return, we have made progress in sync with the motherland. It can be said that it has promoted the development of the entire airport. The airport itself cannot exist alone. Without the development of Hong Kong, there is no development of the airport.
Reporter Wang Shibo reports from Hong Kong
Responsible editor: [Lu Yan]