Saturday 26 July 2014

Let spoiled airlines fund third runway, not the public purse

Letter to South China Morning Post:
As usual, Jake nails it.  (Let spoiled airlines fund third runway, not the public purse, Jake’s view, 22 July).
The spruikers of a third runway demand that we taxpayers stump up at least $200 billion to pay for a third runway at Chek Lap Kok. 
That’s $ 30,000 for every man, woman and child in Hong Kong.  Or nearly $200,000 per taxpayer.
Surely the proponents of the third runway owe us an explanation: why they don’t increase the efficiency of the airport, before demanding that we spend vast sums on more concrete? 
We are told by various sources that efficiency of the airport has dropped dramatically in recent years, as more narrow-bodied aircraft flying to secondary airports are allowed landing slots.  These should be weeded out, to focus on wide-bodied jets servicing key cities. 
Why not address that issue first?
Can the Airport Authority come clean on this issue?
Yours, etc,
Peter F...
Let spoiled airlines fund Hong Kong's third runway, not the public purse