Lawmakers were left disappointed by answers from officials over the arrangements for the use of airspace upon the construction of the third runway at Hong Kong International Airport. File photo: RTHK
Lawmakers from across the political spectrum were left disappointed on Tuesday after the government refused to give details about the delegation of airspace that would come with the planned third runway at Hong Kong International Airport.
A Deputy Director of Civil Aviation, Kevin Choi, told lawmakers during a meeting of a Legislative Council subcommittee that the Hong Kong, Macau and mainland governments were still discussing which one of them would delegate airspace to the other.
The lawmakers were also told that the 2007 agreement on the sharing of airspace cannot be made public because of sensitive information involving the Macau and mainland governments.
The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Anthony Cheung, refused a request from lawmakers to view the documents privately, even with the sensitive parts hidden from them.
Officials attending the meeting insisted Hong Kong will not give up control over its own airspace. But their assurance failed to satisfy the lawmakers.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1253959-20160412.htm
