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International aviation connectivity supports the progress and prosperity of Hong Kong

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The APM Hong Kong branch September event was held at the Hong Kong Yacht Club on 14th September 2010. The presentation entitled International aviation connectivity supports the progress and prosperity of Hong Kong was well attended by 67 members and guests. It was delivered by David Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of Aedas Ltd. The audience was amazed by the interesting history of the old Kai Tak Airport and his extensive experience in Hong Kong architecture.

The presentation focuses on the development of Kai Tak Airport to Hong Kong international Airport, the growth of which would be boosted to the best airport in the globe. The new airport commenced operations in 1997 after a 9-year Arport core programme (compared to the 19-year project of Heathrow Terminal 5). Kai Tak Airport commenced passenger services in 1936, and international cargo services in 1937.  In 2009, 46.1 million passengers used the new airport and 3.35 million tones of cargo were handled. This represents a whopping 92 percent and 123 percent increase in passengers and cargo services in 1995, respectively. The growth of international aviation is a key driver of the development of Hong Kong. Currently, the Airport Authority plans to build additional passenger, cargo, maintenance and support facilities, and a third runway to cope with the infrastructure development of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and new links to Shenzhen.

Being a practicing authorized person (architect)/project director for 14 years in Hong Kong, David has been involved with the airport related projects, such as, SkyPlaza, SkyPier, Asia Airfreight Terminal, North Satellite Concourse, Tradeport Logistics Centre at Hong Kong International Airport.  He disclosed that in the past he had faced different challenges for different projects.  These challenges were huge but they allowed him to learn lessons from one project that could be carried forward to the next project. David felt that Hong Kong had some of the strongest pieces of architecture and that for project managers; the sustainability of projects is their key objective to achieve.

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