Building The Third Runway Analysis

In the recent years, the Airport Authority has proposed of building the third runway in the Hong Kong International Airport as the maximum capacity of the airport is going to be saturated soon. The society has a great controversy over the construction of the third runway. While the airline companies welcome to the economic benefits that will be brought from the expansion of airport, the environmental organizations concern about the potential destruction to the environment. This essay will focus on both the arguments for and against building the third runway in Hong Kong.

The construction and operation of the third runway provide many job opportunities to the society. So (2014) points out that the Hong Kong International Airport has created around 80000 jobs to people with low level of skills and also the high skilled workers. The new runway can lead more jobs to the youth and help them to engage in the aviation industry. For the proposed third runway in Heathrow Airport located in London, the airport operators claimed that 50000 jobs would be provided to the public and unemployment level can hence be cut (Drewett, 2011,para.3, 5). More youth involved in the aviation industry can help to develop the industry and also foster talents for the future development.
Employment opportunities can be provided, as a lot of human efforts are required to construct and operate the third runway. In order to compete with the other countries and to improve the services to the local and foreigners, a new runway is an essential to improve the competitiveness of the Hong Kong International airport. These benefits, however, must be weighted against potential destruction to the environment including the air pollution and noise pollution to the nearby residents. In addition, the Hong Kong propriety species, which is the Chinese White Dolphin, will be decreased, as their habitat will be