A record high number of 3.5 million passengers used Hong Kong International Airport in August, up 16.3 percent on the same month last year, according to a local government report on Monday.

The Airport Authority said in the last 12 months, 35.5 million people passed through the airport, almost 30 percent more than the preceding 12 months.

Cargo throughput at 257,000 tons also continued strong growth in August, up 17.3 percent on the same month last year. In the past 12 months, 2.963 million tons of cargo moved through the airport, up 15.5 percent on the previous 12 months.

Exports (loaded cargo) grew 22.3 percent from last year to 164,000 tons, with demand still growing heavily in Europe, North America and China's mainland.

Stimulated by strong growth in cargo throughput, aircraft movements for the month rose by 21.5 percent to 20,560. There were 228,330 movements in the past 12 months, up 22.3 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2004)