Question:     Please give reasons why, other than Salaries and Mandatory Provident Fund contribution, there are significant increases in the estimates for all remaining items under operational expenses.

Asked by:     Hon. CHAN Kam-lam  

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department          Subhead (No. & title) :

Programme :             (3) Air Traffic Management

Controlling Officer :   Director-General of Civil Aviation

Director of Bureau :   Secretary for Economic Development and Labour

Question : Regarding Matters Requiring Special Attention in 2005-06, it is stated that the department will continue to co-ordinate with adjacent air traffic control authorities to facilitate the operation of aircraft to and from Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Macau and Hong Kong airports.  What are the details and the estimated resources involved?

Asked by :       Hon. YOUNG Howard

Reply :      The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) will continue to co-ordinate with neighbouring air traffic control authorities in the Pearl River Delta to improve the existing air traffic control procedures.   A tripartite working group, comprising representatives from the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, the Civil Aviation Authority of Macau and CAD, is now working closely on the long-term airspace and air traffic management plan for the provision of reliable and efficient air traffic control services to support air services growth in the region up to 2020.   The working group met twice in 2004-05.  Such co-ordinating work is absorbed by existing resources in CAD’s Air Traffic Management Division.  

Head :      28 Civil Aviation Department Subhead (No. & title) : 

Programme :                (3) Air Traffic Management

Controlling Officer :      Director-General of Civil Aviation

Director of Bureau :      Secretary for Economic Development and Labour

Question : Regarding Matters Requiring Special Attention in 2005-06, it is stated that the department will continue to refine the air traffic control procedures and effect improvement to facilities, in view of promoting flight safety and operational efficiency and enhancing air traffic control system capacity.  What are the details and how much provision will be allocated?

Asked by :       Hon. YOUNG Howard

Reply :      In 2005-06, the Civil Aviation Department will introduce new departure and approach procedures that are supported by the Global Positioning System navigation.  The new procedures will provide more accurate track keeping of aircraft and enhance flight safety.

The review and refining of air traffic control procedures is an ongoing function of the department.  The work is undertaken by the Air Traffic Management Division using existing resources.  The provision for the Division in 2005-06 is $255.8 million.

Head :      28 Civil Aviation Department  Subhead (No. & title) :

Programme :          (5) Air Services

Controlling Officer :   Director-General of Civil Aviation

Director of Bureau : Secretary for Economic Development and Labour

Question : It is stated that during 2005-06, the department will continue to review the demand for helicopter services and take forward necessary statutory procedures for the development of heliports.  How much resources have been allocated to develop helicopter services and how much resources and manpower will be involved in taking forward necessary statutory procedures for development?  What are the plans in 2005-06?

Asked by :        Hon. YOUNG Howard

Reply :      To facilitate the development of cross-boundary helicopter services in Hong Kong, the Government would proceed with the expansion of the existing cross-boundary heliport at the Macau Ferry Terminal (MFT).  In 2005-06, the Government will complete the detailed environmental impact assessment study for the MFT expansion project and will conduct an open tendering exercise for the development and operation of the expanded facility.  To meet the demand for cross-boundary helicopter services in the long term, we will continue to explore the feasibility of developing another cross-boundary heliport near the proposed cruise terminal in South East Kowloon under the current Kai Tak Planning Review. 

As regards domestic helicopter services, we have completed a preliminary technical feasibility study on a proposed domestic heliport in Sheung Wan.  The Legislative Council (LegCo), the District Councils concerned and the Harbour-front Enhancement Committee were consulted on this proposal between December 2004 and February 2005.  In view of the public views expressed and the LegCo's support for allowing commercial uses at the Government helipad planned at the site near the Convention and Exhibition Centre, we are currently re-examining the way forward.

As regards resources, the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) would spend about $570,000 for the consultancy study on the environmental impact assessment for the MFT expansion project.  CAD will continue to use existing manpower resources for these projects.

Head :      28 Civil Aviation Department   Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational expenses

Programme :              (6) Air Passenger Departure Tax Administration

Controlling Officer :   Director-General of Civil Aviation    

Director of Bureau :   Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury

Question :   In dealing with the application for refund received by post, the department's target is to process it within 35 working days.  In order to ensure faster processing time, is there any plan to improve efficiency? If yes, what are the additional resources required, if any ?

Asked by :       Hon. YOUNG Howard

Reply :       At present, the majority of refund applications come from sea-to-air passengers arriving at the airport through the Sky Pier.  In order to ensure faster processing of Air Passenger Departure Tax (APDT) refunds, a refund counter is due to be set up at the Sky Pier in April 2005 to make on-the-spot refunds of APDT to sea-to-air passengers.  The arrangements for the refund counter will be coordinated by the Airport Authority.  No additional resources for the department will be required.   

Head :      28 Civil Aviation Department       Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational expenses

Programme :              (6) Air Passenger Departure Tax (APDT) Administration

Controlling Officer :    Director-General of Civil Aviation   

Director of Bureau :    Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury

Question :     How much resources will be allocated to promote the exemption from payment of the APDT for those sea-to-air passengers?

Asked by :       Hon. YOUNG Howard

Reply :       Notices on the exemption policy and the Air Passenger Departure Tax (APDT) refund application forms have been made available in the Bus Waiting Lounge at the Sky Pier and the Waiting Lounge for the sea-to-air passengers at the Passenger Terminal Building.  We also plan to incorporate/update the exemption policy and the means for applying for APDT refunds on the Civil Aviation Department's web site.  Resource requirements to implement these measures will be absorbed by the department.

Question:     For Subhead 000 Operational expenses, the estimate of Civil Service Provident Fund contribution is $173,000 (93%) higher than the revised estimated in 2004-05.  Please account for the estimated increase.

Asked by:       Hon. YOUNG Howard

Reply:           The estimated increase is due to the additional Civil Service Provident Fund contribution for staff to be transferred to new permanent terms in 2005-06, as well as the full-year effect of similar transfer in 2004-05.

Head :28 Civil Aviation Department              Subhead (No. & title) :

Programme :             (5) Air Services

Controlling Officer :   Director-General of Civil Aviation

Director of Bureau :   Secretary for Economic Development and Labour

Question :       It is noted that the problem of aircraft noise is getting worse in recent years, with incidence of aircraft noise above 75 decibel ever increasing.  However, the financial provision in 2005-06 for Air Services under this programme is 2.9% lower than the original estimate for 2004-05.  Could the Administration explain how the noise abatement programme will be implemented to tackle the deteriorating aircraft noise problem when the financial provision is cut?

Asked by :       Hon. CHAN Wai-yip, Albert

Reply :      In addition to monitoring the noise generated by aircraft operating to and from the Hong Kong International Airport, the Air Services Division of the Civil Aviation Department is also responsible for monitoring helicopter services, facilitating the development of heliports, regulating scheduled and non-scheduled air services as well as supporting civil aviation-related legislative work.  The estimated reduction of $0.7 m in the provision for 2005-06 is related to work other than aircraft noise monitoring.  Manpower and equipment expenditure in relation to monitoring aircraft noise will not be reduced.

Head :      28 Civil Aviation Department    Subhead (No. & title) :

Programme :            (5) Air Services

Controlling Officer :  Director-General of Civil Aviation

Director of Bureau :  Secretary for Economic Development and Labour

Question : According to Programme (5), the Civil Aviation Department will continue to “regularly review the demand for helicopter services and take forward necessary statutory procedures for the development of heliports” in 2005-06.  Please provide details of the Administration's plans for the construction of heliports, including the sites identified, the relevant schedules and estimated expenditure. 

Asked by :    Hon. WONG Kwok-hing

Reply :          To facilitate the development of cross-boundary helicopter services in Hong Kong, the Government would proceed with the expansion of the existing cross-boundary heliport at the Macau Ferry Terminal (MFT).  In 2005-06, the Government will complete the detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the MFT expansion project and will conduct an open tendering exercise for the development and operation of the expanded facility.  The Civil Aviation Department would spend about $570,000 to conduct the EIA.  Since the heliport is planned to be developed and operated by the private sector, no Government expenditure would be involved in this regard.  It is expected that the new facility would come into operation in early 2008.  To meet the demand for cross-boundary helicopter services in the long term, we will continue to explore the feasibility of developing another cross-boundary heliport near the proposed cruise terminal in South East Kowloon under the current Kai Tak Planning Review. 

As regards domestic helicopter services, the Legislative Council (LegCo), the District Councils concerned and the Harbour-front Enhancement Committee were consulted on this proposal between December 2004 and February 2005.  In view of the public views expressed and the LegCo's support for allowing commercial uses at the Government helipad planned at the site near the Convention and Exhibition Centre, we are currently re-examining the way forward, including the timing and resources implications.

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department            Subhead (No. & title) :

Programme :                (3) Air Traffic Management

Controlling Officer :     Director-General of Civil Aviation

Director of Bureau :     Secretary for Economic Development and Labour

Question : Under matters requiring special attention in 2005-06, it is stated that the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) will continue to recruit air traffic control staff to meet the anticipated air traffic services demand.  How many air traffic control staff will be recruited?  What is the provision required?  Does the recruitment aim at providing additional manpower or making up for the turnover?

Asked by :       Hon WONG Ting-kwong

Reply :        In 2005-06, the CAD will recruit 12 Student Air Traffic Control Officers at an estimated expenditure of $3.5 million.  Since the recruitment is to fill the vacancies arising from natural wastage, it will not give rise to additional resources implication.

Head :   28 Civil Aviation Department         Subhead (No. & title) :

Programme :             (5) Air Services

Controlling Officer :   Director-General of Civil Aviation

Director of Bureau :   Secretary for Economic Development and Labour

Question :       As mentioned in the Government's Reply Serial No. EDLB(ED)007, the Government is currently re-examining the development of domestic helicopter services.  When will the Government complete the examination?  Will the District Councils be re-consulted during the examination?

Asked by :       Hon. CHAN Yuen-han

Reply :    We are reviewing the proposed development of a permanent domestic heliport in light of the views collected from different quarters and the Legislative Council (LegCo)'s support for allowing commercial uses at the Government helipad planned at the site near the Convention and Exhibition Centre.  The review includes the timing and resource implications of the development option.  We aim to complete the review shortly and will consult the LegCo and the relevant District Council.