OREANDA-NEWS. May 28, 2012. Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited ("HAECO", Stock Code: 00044) today welcomed the submission by the Airport Authority Hong Kong ("AAHK") of the project profile to the Hong Kong SAR Government for the Hong Kong International Airport ("HKIA") expansion into a three-runway system. This sets the beginning of the expansion plan's statutory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.

Mr. Augustus Tang, Chief Executive Officer of HAECO, said, "It is of vital importance to ensure the continuous development of HKIA, which goes hand in hand with Hong Kong's long-term sustainable development and general competitiveness. We are delighted to see the start of the statutory EIA process."

The project profile gives an account of the potential impact on the environment, covering an array of topics like air quality, water quality, noise, marine ecology, fisheries, landscape, cultural heritage and so on. "We welcome the setting up of focus groups and community liaison groups by AAHK to gather public feedback on the expansion plan," said Mr. Tang.

"Being an integral part of the HKIA, HAECO is always conscious of reducing the impact of its operations on the environment, whereby reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions is a key environmental aim for HAECO. We are confident that the economic benefits and the environmental considerations will be prudently balanced in the EIA process," added Mr. Tang.