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Following is a question by the Hon Howard Young and a written reply by the Secretary for Economic Services, Mr Stephen Ip, in the Legislative Council today (May 17) :

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council whether it has assessed the feasibility of providing helipad facilities at Chek Lap Kok for the operation of helicopter services between Hong Kong and Macau; if the assessment result is in the positive, of its implementation plans; if the assessment result is in the negative, of the reasons for that?

Reply:

Madam President,

At present, there are regular helicopter services between Macau and Hong Kong, using the helipad at the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal. To facilitate further development of helicopter services between the two places, the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) and the Airport Authority (AA) have conducted a study on the feasibility of providing helipad facilities at Chek Lap Kok (CLK). Potential sites have been identified. Working together with organisations concerned (e.g. ground handling services providers, CAD, Immigration Department and Customs and Excise Department), AA has developed a set of operating procedures for handling helicopters at CLK. Furthermore, CAD has put in place the necessary air traffic control arrangements for helicopter flights between Macau and CLK.

While the Government and AA will provide the necessary infrastructure and put in place the supporting arrangements, the operation of helicopter services is a commercial decision of individual companies. The private sector has indicated some interest in operating helicopter services between Macau and CLK, but whether services would be introduced and when they would be introduced would have to be decided by individual companies.

End/Wednesday, May 17, 2000

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