Construction

Construction and fit-out work entered its most intensive phase during the
year. All time-critical elements of the airport, from the airfield to the
passenger terminal building and ground transportation centre, and from
the airport island's road network to the installation of utilities and
communications systems, were well in hand.

The passenger terminal building, with a gross floor area of 516 000
square metres at airport opening, dominated the landscape on Chek Lap
Kok. During the year, the work focus moved from the exterior to the
interior of the building. The structural and building services work were
substantially complete by the year's end, and the installation and
integration of the airport's vital and all-embracing communications and
security systems were well under way.

The transportation centre was rapidly taking shape. Incorporating the AR
Airport Station, it will act as an integrated transport hub for all surface
transport. Access roads to the terminal and the transportation centre were
completed in the year.

Flight trials at the first (or southern) runway began on schedule in
February 1997. Trials were then conducted on electronic and visual
systems throughout the year. Works for landside infrastructure made
good progress.

Contracts for the second (or northern) runway and for the main building
contract for the extension to the passenger terminal north-west concourse
were awarded in April and September respectively. The northern runway,
which is outside the ACP scope, is scheduled for operation in late 1998.

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