Hong Kong - Kai Tak airport closes

(5 Jul 1998) T/I: 11:03:04


The last plane flew out of Hong Kong's Kai Tak airport in the bustling heart of the Kowloon peninsula late on Sunday (5/7), ending more than 70 years of aviation history. Cathay Pacific flight CX251, bound for London's Heathrow airport, was the last plane to leave Kai Tak, which is being closed down. A lights-out ceremony was planned for 1:00 a.m. on Monday (1700 GMT Sunday) at Kai Tak, where a huge logistics operation was already moving tonnes of equipment to Hong Kong's new
state-of-the-art airport on the outlying island of Chek Lap Kok.


SHOWS:

KAI TAK AIRPORT, HONG KONG, 5/7
Airport staff dancing and cheering;
SOT worker (english): "Bye Bye Kai Tak";
VS convoy of lorries leaving airport with equipment;
WS exterior airport;
Cathay Pacific plane taking off - last flight to leave airport;
VS Dragonair plane landing - last flight to arrive;
Convoy of lorries en route to Chek Lap Kok airport;

CHEK LAP KOK AIRPORT, HONG KONG, 5/7
Equipment being unloaded at new terminal;
Cleaners washing sidewalk;
painters putting final touches to exterior;
Vs interiors new terminal as final preparations made for Monday's opening;

KAI TAK AIRPORT, HONG KONG, 5/7
Airport official SOT (English): "The last passenger has arrived the last flight has departed, the runway is quiet - it is now time to turn the lights out that have safely guided thousand of planes...Goodbye Kai Tak and thank-you"; clapping;

3.15

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