Hong Kong International Airport reported a good performance in the first half of this year with increases in passengers, cargo volumes and air traffic movements.

Compared to the corresponding period in 2006, the first six months of 2007 saw: Passenger volume up 6.4 percent to 22.7 million; Cargo traffic grew 1.5 percent to 1.7 million tonnes; and ATMs increased 4.4 percent to 143,000.

Compared to June 2006, passenger and cargo volumes and ATMs all increased 5.7 percent, 5.3 percent, and 5.6 percent respectively.

Airport Authority Hong Kong chief executive Stanley Hui Hon-chung said HKIA expects passenger outbound volume to increase "as Hong Kong people take summer holidays, plus strong inbound traffic from Europe, the mainland and Southeast Asia."

Hui also said the continued rise in cargo traffic is particularly pleasing.

In the busy vacation period, HKIA saw an increase in passenger numbers of 5.7 percent, or 3.85 million, compared to the same period in the previous year.

For the 12 months ended June 30, passenger and cargo traffic reached 45.8 million and 3.6 million tonnes respectively, an increase of 7.4 percent and 2.8 percent from the previous year's figures.

Turnover for the year ended March 31 showed a steady growth of HK$7.73 billion, an increase of 9 percent from the previous year's HK$7.07 billion. ATMs have also increased 4.8 percent from 270,000 to 283,000.

HKIA earlier had announced a HK$4.5 billion spending plan till 2010 to add parking stands and other facilities at the airport.

Projects such as a golf course, a cross-border ferry terminal and a second airport hotel are under way.

In the meantime, HKIA will offer a range of social events and activities throughout this month and August in Terminal 1 and 2.

They will feature magic shows, handicraft workshops, nail painting, story telling, balloon art and a photo exhibition to provide travelers with "a pleasant, memorable airport experience," Hui said.