The Airport Authority will this year begin an engineering and environmental feasibility study for a third runway at Hong Kong International Airport, Financial Secretary John Tsang announced today.

Presenting his Budget in the Legislative Council, Mr Tsang noted that the airport is the world's fifth busiest in terms of international passenger throughput - and the busiest in terms of international cargo throughput.

Passenger and air cargo throughput reached new highs last year, with more than 47 million travellers passing through the airport and 3.74 million tonnes of air cargo handled, he said.