How many airports has HK had? Fanling and Shatin also had one?

Published : 2024-12-13

HK Airport｜Sek Kong Airfield established in 1938

First and foremost, if we only consider civil airports, there is indeed only one in Hong Kong at Chek Lap Kok, the Hong Kong International Airport. The other functioning airport mentioned earlier is Sek Kong Airfield (石崗機場) in Pat Heung, Yuen Long. It is a military airfield and does not get much "exposure."

Sek Kong Airfield has a long history. Hong Kong's first airport was Kai Tak Airport (啟德機場), which opened in 1925, and Sek Kong Airfield was built in 1938 during the British colonial period for the British military. In terms of the start date of construction, Sek Kong Airfield is Hong Kong's second airport.

However, due to wartime reasons, the construction of Sek Kong Airfield was halted, and the land was repurposed. It was not until the 1950s that construction resumed, after which it hosted British military fighter jets.

After Hong Kong's return to the Motherland, Sek Kong Airfield has been used by the stationed troops of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison. Though the garrison does not station fixed-wing aircraft there, the 1,950-metre long runway is in good condition and fully capable of accommodating small aircraft.

HK Airport｜Sek Kong Airfield has a complex geographical environment

In fact, aside from military use, Sek Kong Airfield is also lent out to the Hong Kong Aviation Club at certain times for small aircraft training.

It is important to note that Sek Kong Airfield is surrounded by high mountains on three sides. Especially in the south side there is Hong Kong's highest peak (957 metres), Tai Mo Shan (大帽山), creating a much more complex geographical environment than Kai Tak Airport, which was located in the Kowloon urban area.

After Sek Kong Airfield, the British military built two other crude military airports in Fanling and Sha Tin in 1949.

Fanling Airport had a very short lifespan, being abandoned within a year due to changes in the situation. Very little information about it remains, and even old Hong Kong residents might not know about this place.

HK Airports｜Sha Tin Airport was used until the 1960s

Where exactly was Fanling Airport? According to media reports, it was located within the current Hong Kong Golf Club.

As for Shatin Airport, the original site was near the current Shatin MTR station, with the Lion Rock Tunnel Road crossing the runway position; it was used by the British Army's Air Reconnaissance Unit and housed small observation aircraft.

Compared to Fanling Airport, Shatin Airport was slightly larger in scale and considered relatively "durable." It was damaged during Typhoon Wanda in the 1960s, after which the British forces withdrew and the airport was abandoned.

Additionally, Kai Tak Airport, the first airport in Hong Kong that had been in use for over 70 years, witnessed the development and economic take-off of Hong Kong and retired in 1998. The elder generation in Hong Kong still misses this airport located in the city centre.

Read more: Hong Kong Airport ｜ Planes landing in Tuen Mun District? It's true!

HK Airport ｜ What was the official name of Kai Tak Airport?

There is a lot of information about Kai Tak Airport, but there is the fact that may not be widely noticed that initially, it was mainly seaplanes that used Kai Tak Airport, and their mooring area was in Kowloon Bay.

Additionally, since the 1950s, the official name of Kai Tak Airport has been Hong Kong International Airport. When the new airport at Chek Lap Kok opened in 1998, it inherited this name along with its IATA (International Air Transport Association) code - HKG.

Lastly, it is worth adding that the first time an airplane flew in Hong Kong was in 1911, but this small plane took off and landed in a flat area in Shatin, as Hong Kong had no airport at the time.

A replica of this aircraft, "Spirit of Shatin," is currently on long-term display hanging in Terminal 1 of the Hong Kong airport at Chek Lap Kok.