{
  "id": 7503490,
  "title": "Hong Kong airport builds third runway with strategy to help marine environment thrive",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/hong-kong-airport-builds-third-runway-with-strategy-to-help-marine-7503490",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-15T08:00:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/native/news/hong-kong/topics/hong-kong-airports-major-expansion/article/3367415/hong-kong-airport-builds-third-runway-strategy-help-marine-environment-thrive"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) constructed a third runway and associated facilities for a three-runway system, while balancing the need for infrastructure development with ecological conservation. The project involved reclaiming 650 hectares of land adjacent to the existing airport, which is equivalent to 34 Victoria Parks or 900 standard football pitches. Over 40% of this reclaimed area contained contaminated sediment from previous construction works stored in old mud pits. To avoid releasing these pollutants into the marine environment, HKIA opted for deep cement mixing, a novel technique at this scale. This method involved injecting cement slurry directly into the seabed, which turned into columns that anchored the reclaimed land while containing the contaminants. This approach saved about a year of construction time and reduced fill material demand by around 10%. Engineers also applied similar conservation principles in other areas of the project, such as using horizontal directional drilling to lay two 5.2km aviation fuel pipelines beneath the seabed, instead of dredging. With over 250 measures implemented to mitigate potential environmental impacts, HKIA also incorporated voluntary enhancement measures. The project's sea wall, which encircles the reclaimed land, features over 500 eco-enhanced blocks with grooved surfaces and water-retaining cavities to attract marine life. Additionally, 600 artificial reefs have been installed, and nearly 90,000 fish fry released into the surrounding waters. Furthermore, HKIA supported the establishment of a 2,400-hectare marine park, the largest and newest of its kind in Hong Kong, contributing to the conservation of marine biodiversity.",
  "summary": "When Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) set out to build a new runway and associated facilities for the three-runway system operation, engineers had to carefully navigate a challenge hidden beneath the surrounding waters. The project involved 650 hectares (1,606 acres) of reclaimed land adjacent to the existing airport, an area equivalent to about 34 Victoria Parks or 900 standard football…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post - Hong Kong",
        "title": "Hong Kong airport builds third runway with strategy to help marine environment thrive",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/hong-kong-airport-builds-third-runway-with-strategy-to-help-marine",
        "published": "2026-09-15T08:00:07.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}