Panorama 360 of opinion enhances debate on Hong Kong's 3rd runway
By Jonathan Sharp
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At one of the most successful and best-appreciated events organized by the Aerospace Forum Asia in its 25-year history, the arguments for and against the construction of a third runway for Hong Kong International Airport were hashed out in depth at a Symposium held on September 2 on the airport's Master Plan 2030. The event was a much valued contribution to the debate over what panellist George Cautherley described as a "complex matrix of issues" surrounding what is demonstrably one of the more important infrastructure decisions to be made by Hong Kong in the second decade of the 21st century.
As AFA President Martin Craigs commented, the timing of the Symposium was immaculate – on the final day of the three-month public consultation period on the Master Plan. Furthermore the 10-strong cast assembled to discuss the issues came from far and wide and was stellar in quality. Crucially, speakers were by no means all on the same page in the debate. While the event was bookended by two aviation industry leaders promoting the airport expansion – Airport Authority Hong Kong CEO Stanley Hui and Cathay Pacific Airways CEO John Slosar – eloquent and respected voices were heard from the environmental camp of doubters and dissenters.
"It's an inclusive and open forum for open minds," said Craigs minutes before the 9:00 a.m. start of the Symposium. "We are here to find more common ground, not to unhelpfully have combat."
He was not disappointed. Kicking off proceedings in the first keynote speech, Hui was clearly mindful of the sometimes intemperate criticism from lobbies such as the WWF over how the consultation has been handled. "No effort has been spared to reach out to as many stakeholders and members of the public as possible," he said. More than 29,000 questionnaires and written feedback submissions – much of it favourable – had been received by the University of Hong Kong's Social Sciences Research Centre, appointed to independently collect, compile and analyse views on the Master Plan.
Concerns over the environment impact of the three-runway system were totally valid. "We have also repeatedly said throughout the consultation that the preliminary assessment is no replacement for a detailed and through statutory environmental impact assessment (EIA) that would need to be carried under Hong Kong law."
Development of the airport and environmental protection were not mutually exclusive, he said. "Our goal is to be the greenest airport in the world."
The Centre will send to the Airport Authority its report in October. "We plan to submit our recommendation [to the Government] before the end of the year," Hui added.
First up to cast doubt on the Airport Authority's green credentials was Eric Bohm, CEO of WWF Hong Kong, who joked that he felt like he was entering a "lions' den".
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