Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) has got its environmental permit to build a third runway at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) after the government’s environmental protection director approved AA’s environmental impact assessment (EIA).

To mitigate the harm caused by building the third runway at HKIA, a 2,400 hectare marine park will be built. Other measures include using non-dredge methods for land reclamation, horizontal directional drilling to divert existing fuel pipelines to avoid disturbing the seabed and putting the South runway on standby mode at night to reduce noise.

AA chief executive officer, Fred Lam Tin-fuk, says: “The AA is committed to carrying out all the mitigation measures proposed in the 3RS [three runway system] EIA report, and fully complying with all conditions listed by the environmental protection department in a highly prudent, transparent and professional manner. Our aim is to achieve a balance between economic development and conservation.”

AA says the next step is to submit to the Hong Kong government recommendations for how it will take the project forward and tackle other statutory procedures.