Aviation hub: Chief Executive Donald Tsang visits the air traffic control tower.

The air traffic control staff provide a safe and efficient service to the travelling public, Chief Executive Donald Tsang says.

Mr Tsang visited the Civil Aviation Department today to gain a better understanding of the air traffic control services operations at Hong Kong International Airport.

He began his visit at the air traffic control centre where he was briefed on how air traffic controllers worked round the clock to ensure the safe and efficient flow of aircraft movements within the Hong Kong flight information region.

He noted that air traffic has been increasing rapidly since the Hong Kong International Airport opened in 1998.

Last year, the air traffic control centre handled 280,492 runway movements and 139,714 overflights. These figures represent increases of 6.4% and 11.2% over 2005.

Narrow air space issue raised

During his duty visit to Beijing last month, Mr Tsang raised the issue of the narrow air space in the Pearl River Delta region. The Central Government reassured him it would attach great importance to the issue and would help the region study ways to become more efficient in aviation management.

The Civil Aviation Department and other relevant authorities will work with relevant Mainland authorities to follow up the matter.

Mr Tsang then visited the aerodrome tower, which provides 24-hour aerodrome control services to aircraft operating at the airport. He was briefed on the standard flight procedures for arrivals and departures.

The tower handled an average of 780 aircraft movements a day and air traffic was expected to increase significantly during long holiday periods. On April 14, 2006 (Good Friday), 870 flight movements were handled at the airport, setting a new daily record.