The Airport Standards Division (APSD) is responsible for the regulatory functions in respect of airport safety, aviation security, control of obstructions, and safe transport of dangerous goods by air. The division also facilitates the development of heliports and cross-boundary helicopter services, monitors the safety and security of heliport operations, assesses and oversees the development and operations of the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) under the Two-runway System (2RS) and Interim Two-Runway System (I-2RS) and the HKIA's expansion to the Three-runway System (3RS), and assumes the role in coordinating airport facilitation.
The Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) is granted an aerodrome licence by the CAD to operate the HKIA. The APSD continued to exercise safety oversight on the performance of the AAHK to ensure its compliance with the aerodrome licensing requirements.
The division carried out 17 audits and 145 inspections during the year covering both ad-hoc and scheduled airfield maintenance works, conditions of airfield pavements, visual aids, other facilities required for aircraft operations, implementation of the Safety Management System, emergency planning, airport rescue and firefighting services, aircraft ground operations provided by the AAHK and its ground handling agents, as well as airfield expansion and enhancement projects. The division also participated in the franchisee audits carried out by the AAHK and monitored investigation of aircraft ground incidents to ensure that effective oversight was duly exercised by the AAHK on franchisees' safety performance and appropriate corrective measures had been taken by responsible parties to prevent recurrence.
Several large-scale airfield maintenance projects were undertaken by the AAHK during the year. The AAHK's three-phase programme of pavement resurfacing works for the taxiways started in October 2019, with Phase 1 completed in August 2021. Phase 2 of the programme started in October 2021 and is targeted to be completed by December 2023. To enhance the durability of runway stop bar lights for extended operation hours, the AAHK started to replace the stop bar lights with LED lights. The project began in January 2019 and was scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2027. Besides, for the final phase of West Cargo Apron Development Project, one taxilane will be widened and 12 parking stands will be upgraded by the AAHK. The upgrade of the southern section of the taxilane and three parking stands was completed in October 2021. The remaining section of the taxilane and nine other parking stands will be upgraded by the fourth quarter of 2022. Upon completion of the upgrade, the taxilane will be capable of accommodating Code F aircraft.
In preparation for the implementation of 3RS at the HKIA, the former North Runway was re-designated as the Centre Runway (07C/25C) on 2 December 2021. The associated airfield works of the re-designation involved modifications on the visual aids, including signs and markings, and the Airfield Ground Lighting Control and Monitoring System to reflect the revised runway designation. The division closely liaised with the AAHK and conducted on-site inspections to ensure that the design and provision of the modifications conformed to the aerodrome licensing requirements. Following the smooth re-designation of the Centre Runway, the Third Runway was designated as the North Runway (07L/25R) on 24 February 2022.
During the year, five taxiways, two taxilanes and 45 parking stands were also re-designated in phases in preparation for the commissioning of new taxiways system under I-2RS and 3RS. The division will continue to closely liaise with the AAHK to monitor relevant airfield developments associated with the I-2RS and 3RS to ensure aerodrome safety.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) formulated Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in respect of the Global Reporting Format for runway surface conditions (GRF) with the aim of mitigating the risk of runway excursions and enhancing runway safety by enabling a harmonised assessment and reporting of runway surface conditions and an improved flight crew assessment of take-off and landing performance. To comply with the relevant ICAO requirements which became applicable on 4 November 2021, the AAHK collaborated with the Hong Kong Observatory and CAD to develop a predictive model for assessing runway surface conditions and a digital platform for disseminating the runway condition reports on a real-time basis. With the concerted effort from stakeholders, the GRF has been fully implemented at the HKIA since 4 November 2021.
For the purpose of testing the emergency response procedures and enhancing the coordination between the aerodrome operator and relevant responding parties when dealing with aircraft accidents, the AAHK conducted a number of drills and exercises throughout the year. The division oversaw the preparation and operation of these drills and exercises and provided regulatory advice for the AAHK and relevant responding parties to further enhance the emergency procedures and responses.
The APSD carried on scrutinising the AAHK's aerodrome safety management activities to ensure adherence to ICAO SARPs. During the year, the AAHK established a taskforce to strengthen the coordination among its works departments and enhance works site supervision from an aerodrome safety management perspective. The AAHK also regularly organised safety awareness workshops and safety promotion activities for their staff. The division provided regulatory advice on the safety management and promotion activities for the AAHK to continuously enhance its safety management system.
The APSD kept monitoring the safety of heliport operations and providing regulatory advice on the planning and design of heliports in Hong Kong. The division has also been tasked to facilitate the development of cross-boundary helicopter services between the Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong.
It was announced in the Chief Executive's 2020 Policy Address that the Civil Aviation Administration of China had agreed to commence preparation for the provision of cross-boundary commercial helicopter services between Guangdong and Hong Kong. The division, together with its policy bureau, will continue to liaise with the Mainland counterparts to take forward the development with a view to expanding cross-boundary helicopter services between Hong Kong and cities in Guangdong Province.
During the year, the construction of the Government Flying Service Kai Tak Division at the ex-Kai Tak Runway Tip proceeded and approached the final stage. The division continued to provide technical advice on heliport design and will conduct on-site inspections on the heliport facilities to ensure their compliance with the applicable international standards, taking into account the possibility of co-locating cross-boundary commercial helicopter services at this location in the future.
Airport Height Restrictions (AHR) are established to protect aircraft flight paths and radio navigational aids. The APSD assessed and provided regulatory advice on various building and development projects and feasibility studies to ensure their observance of the AHR requirements under the existing 2RS and the forthcoming 3RS operations and other applicable aviation safety requirements. The major development project and study outside the HKIA assessed during the year included the Airport City Link Development and the Premium Logistics Centre at Kwo Lo Wan. The major development projects within the HKIA assessed included the Sky Bridge Development. In addition, regarding the AAHK's project to expand the HKIA into a 3RS, the division provided regulatory advice on the AHR requirements and the associated Marine Exclusion Zones (MEZs) for an expanded airport system in order to safeguard aviation safety of the flight paths. In preparation for the operations of the Third Runway, during the year the APSD also coordinated with other divisions of the CAD for the provision of a new obstacle light station at Castle Peak.
As the reclamation works and construction works to expand the HKIA into a 3RS at the waters around the HKIA proceeded, a large number of working vessels and machinery were deployed by contractors to work in close proximity to the HKIA. The APSD enforced the requirement for the AAHK, its project consultants and contractors to utilise the vessel/machinery height monitoring system in checking the highest altitude of vessels/machinery working at the reclamation and works sites near the HKIA and enhancing the contractor's observance of the AHR requirements. This arrangement was particularly important for the division's consideration of applications for temporary AHR exemption involving high air draft vessels and tall machinery. The APSD kept a close watch on the performance of contractors in observing the AHR requirements for submission and implementation of corresponding improvement measures as and when necessary. The division also participated in various meetings with the AAHK's project consultants and contractors, and offered regulatory advice from time to time to ensure that the construction methods including the choice of construction plants would fully comply with the AHR requirements.
This year, the division issued 734 temporary AHR exemptions for the construction works in the territory and vessel operations in the vicinity of the Airport Island, of which 629 were associated with the reclamation and land-based works for the expansion of the HKIA into a 3RS, and the remaining 105 issued to other works projects or one-off operations.
With the assistance of the Marine Department (MD), the APSD continued to ensure integrity of the MEZs established in the vicinity of the Airport Island to safeguard the operation of aircraft and radio navigational aids. During the year, four prosecutions against illegal entry into the MEZs were instituted by the MD.
While the AAHK is pursuing detailed design and commissioning of the HKIA airport expansion into 3RS operations, the APSD has undertaken monitoring of the airport expansion to ensure that the 3RS related project works fully abide by the relevant ICAO requirements on aerodrome. The division has been conducting on-site inspections on the 3RS related project works since April 2021, and will continue to monitor the progress of relevant works.
The division also worked closely with the AAHK and other government departments to formulate the expanded AHR requirements and associated regulation of marine traffic for the purpose of safeguarding the future 3RS operations. Relevant legislative amendments had been gazetted on 20 August 2021 and will come into effect on 31 May 2022.
To safeguard aviation safety from being compromised, the APSD kept overseeing and giving regulatory advice on the use of lasers, search lights and firework displays at different shows such as "A Symphony of Lights" as well as other lighting displays at building facades, especially illuminated advertisement signs.
The APSD continued to monitor the safety of recreational aviation activities, including paragliding, kite flying and model aircraft operations, to ensure that these activities were conducted in adherence to applicable aviation safety regulations and would not affect civil aircraft operations.
The Dangerous Goods Office (DGO) of the APSD regulates the transport of dangerous goods by air based on ICAO and local legal requirements. The DGO has established a dangerous goods permission system whereby airlines which satisfy all pertinent safety requirements will be granted a permission to carry dangerous goods to, from or over Hong Kong. During the year, 36 new and 38 renewal applications for dangerous goods permissions were processed. At the end of March 2022, 157 airlines have been granted permissions. The office also approved 49 organisations for conducting dangerous goods training programmes for airlines, aviation security service providers, air cargo terminals, freight forwarders and shippers. The DGO conducted regular and ad-hoc inspections to airlines, air cargo terminals, freight forwarders, shippers and training organisations to ascertain their compliance with the safety requirements on air transport of dangerous goods. For any non-compliance identified during inspections, the concerned entities were required to submit and implement corrective action plans to the CAD's satisfaction to prevent recurrence.
To enhance the awareness of the industry and the public of the safety requirements on air transport of dangerous goods, the DGO sustained its efforts to promulgate the safety requirements through various means. During the year, the DGO published circulars and posters, reviewed and updated the Department's website, promoted safety requirements on air transport of dangerous goods when replying enquiries, and constantly reminded the industry to abide by the relevant safety requirements. In addition, the DGO issued two advisory circulars to the air cargo industry during the year concerning dangerous goods training programmes approved by the CAD and recommendations for the packaging of cargo with lithium batteries respectively.
To align the two sets of local legislation with the latest requirements of ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, the DGO continued to take forward the related legislative amendment process during the year with the support of the air cargo industry. The legislative amendments which included primarily changes to the requirements on dangerous goods training for employees of aircraft operators, shippers and freight forwarders has become effective from 2 July 2021.
The incidents which occurred in the year were mainly related to undeclared dangerous goods in air cargo. The DGO conducted investigations into all these incidents to prevent recurrence. The CAD has also been taking prosecution actions against the concerned entities that were found contravening the dangerous goods legislation. In close cooperation with the air cargo industry, the implementation of the enhanced control, surveillance and inspection measures for safe transport of dangerous goods by air forged ahead with its regulatory efforts in managing undeclared and misdeclared dangerous goods occurrences. In addition, useful incident information was disseminated to the air cargo industry in Hong Kong and other aviation authorities.
The APSD ensured that the AAHK and the operators at the HKIA, including tenant restricted area operators, aircraft operators and aircraft catering supplies and stores operators, complied with the requirements in the Hong Kong Aviation Security Programme through audits and inspections.
During the year, the division processed four proposals of restricted area designations of the HKIA under the Aviation Security Ordinance. The designations included the reclamation filling adjacent to the former northern seawall at the HKIA, renovation of Government VIP and HKIA VIP Lounges, alteration of emergency exits at Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal and construction of express truck docks at Asia Airfreight Terminal. The division conducted on-site assessments to confirm that adequate security control measures were provided for the protection of the re-designated restricted areas. The division also worked with the AAHK in the 3RS related projects, deployment of autonomous vehicles with video analytics to assist with security patrols at the perimeter of the restricted area and other facility development projects to ensure that they complied with the relevant aviation security requirements.
Under the Regulated Agent Regime (RAR), a cargo agent registered as a Regulated Agent (RA) with the CAD is required to provide security control measures on consignments of air cargo. As at 31 March 2022, there were over 1 400 RAs registered with the CAD. The APSD kept supervising the compliance of the RAs with the requirements of RAR through regular inspections, and required them to submit and implement corresponding corrective action plans when any non-compliance was identified.
Hong Kong has fully implemented 100% security screening for export air cargo since 1 July 2021, and complied with ICAO's policy direction on air cargo security as scheduled. Pursuant to the policy direction, during the year the division continued to implement the Regulated Air Cargo Screening Facility (RACSF) Scheme to facilitate air cargo screening at off-airport locations. This measure not only increases Hong Kong's overall screening capacity for export air cargo, but also enhances air cargo security through achieving 100% security screening for export air cargo. As at 31 March 2022, there were over 150 RACSFs registered with the CAD.
The division has been proactively co-ordinating the efforts of the air cargo industry, which actively supported to achieve full implementation of the policy direction of ICAO in order to maintain Hong Kong's leading position as an international air cargo hub.
Through the Hong Kong Air Transport Facilitation Committee, the APSD continued to oversee the implementation of the SARPs of ICAO Annex 9 at the HKIA and to coordinate with senior management of relevant government departments, agencies and other organisations on facilitation activities at strategic level. The committee convened in November 2021 to discuss the latest ICAO guidance for the prevention of COVID-19 and the necessary coordination facilitating the orderly post-pandemic recovery of air transport services. Besides, to facilitate crew members of Hong Kong registered aircraft operators in discharging their flight duties, the APSD issued Crew Member Certificates (CMC) in accordance with ICAO Annex 9. During the year, 498 CMC were issued.
The APSD continued to communicate with overseas aviation authorities to share information on best practices of security measures for enhancing aviation security in Hong Kong, and participate in international meetings and programmes for monitoring the development of measures related to aviation security and COVID-19.