PingShan Aerodrome (Proposed) [????- ] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

PingShan Aerodrome (Proposed) [????- ]

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Submitted by fivestar on Tue, 2012-09-18 15:47

I have come across references in 1946, to a proposed replacement airport for Kai Tak located in PingShan. it was ultimately cancelled due to costs.

I have tried to locate an area where such an enlarged aerodrome could have been located, but no success.

Anybody recall such a project?

rgds

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Submitted by tngan on Tue, 2012-09-18 17:31.

Hi there,

Try this Chinese link.  They have a map overlay showing the approximate area.  The are also references to past Legislative Council reference.  I believe Wiki (maybe the Chinese version of it) also have some entries of the same subject somewhere.

My 2 cents,

T

Submitted by David on Tue, 2012-09-18 17:33.

I've out a marker on the map roughly in the Ping Shan area.

See the photos of the RAF Ping Shan radar facility to see there was lots of empty space there.

Regards, David

Submitted by IDJ on Tue, 2012-09-18 18:34.

The construction of this aerodrome was started in great haste in 1945 and up to 3000 people were involved in the site formation work which included new quarries. It was being built by the RAF's Aerodrome Construction Wing. The RAF had declared that Kai Tak was far too dangerous for postwar modern aircraft. However, before a runway could even be laid the project was halted by the refusal of BOAC which had influence over its use to actually use it, and increasing troubles from the numerous villages that were having to be cleared off the site. The villagers appealed to the Nationalist Government who brought pressure to bear on the HK government. By 1947 the excitement was over and everyone had gone home. The aerodrome forgotten about and Kai Tak carried on until 1998. Remnents of the quarries could still be seen in the area in recent years. 

Submitted by moddsey on Tue, 2012-09-18 18:11.

The abandonment of Ping Shan Aerodrome was raised in Legco on 19th July 1946 and reasons given stated  here

Submitted by fivestar on Wed, 2012-09-19 17:22.

Many thanks.

It would be interest to crystal gaze and envision what may have happened in Hong Kong if the aerodrome had been buil;t.

Would Yuen Long have developed as it is now, would KaiTak been closed and redeveloped and would even ChapLapKok have been developed.

Could spend hours theorizing!!

Submitted by moddsey on Wed, 2012-09-19 18:22.

At the time,  the correct decsion was made not to build the aerodrome at Ping Shan.  Particularly when one considers not only the high costs of buidling an aerodrome far away from the city centre but also the alignment of any proposed runway being so close to an uneasy border. 

For record,  the Ping Shan Aerodrome scheme was abandoned in March 1946 following the report of the joint commission of the Air Ministry and the Ministry of Civil Aviation that "the site was unsuitable for an airfield of international character."

Submitted by Admin on Thu, 2013-11-14 18:14.

IDJ has written a longer article:

When Hong Kong was liberated in September 1945, one of the military groups diverted to assist restoring the city’s electricity, gas and water utilities and railway was the Royal Air Force’s No. 5358 Airfield Construction Wing that was part of Shield Force. This fleet of Royal Navy Cruisers and Aircraft Carriers plus their support ships were transporting 3000 airman and all the equipment and machinery needed to construct airfields on islands close to Japan where American troops were slowly defeating the Japanese. Lancaster bombers were to follow to bomb the Japanese mainland from these airfields, although the American Army Air Force had already been doing this very effectively from bases in China and the Pacific Islands.

However before the RAF could start their task ... read more

Submitted by moddsey on Thu, 2013-11-14 18:59.
Before the reclaimed runway at Kai Tak, I believe Ping Shan was also re-visited as a location for a new airport. Again the same reasons for it not being a viable airport location were aired and Ping Shan was struck off the list.