The Hong Kong Airport Authority Monday unveiled plans for further developing Hong Kong International Airport to meet its ultimate design capacity of 87 million passengers and 9 million tons of cargo annually around 2020.

The Hong Kong International Airport Master Plan includes expansion and enhancement of the passenger terminal building, development of an elongated X shaped satellite concourse in the midfield with additional aircraft parking, and implementation of a cargo development strategy to position the airport as an express cargo transshipment hub as well as general air cargo center.

Under the plan, the Airport Authority will also develop off- airport logistics parks on North Lantau to enhance Hong Kong's position as a regional logistics and supply-chain management center, and enhance accessibility through direct air, land and sea links between the Chinese mainland, in particular the Pearl River Delta.

"The Hong Kong International Airport Master Plan 2020 provides for the facilities and services that will be needed to meet increasing demand and new developments in aviation over the next 20 years," said David Pang, CEO of the Airport Authority.

"Though the airport is only three years old, we are very optimistic about is future. We expect passenger and cargo throughout to grow on average by 5 percent and 6 percent annually over the coming years."

(Xinhua News Agency 10/29/2001)