Sha Tau Kok Heliport

The closure was driven by a combination of factors:
1. **Military Redeployment:** The primary users were British military and Royal Hong Kong Police units patrolling the border. The withdrawal of the British Armed Forces after 1997 eliminated a major operational need for the heliport.
2. **Changing Border Security:** A significant decrease in large-scale illegal immigration from mainland China reduced the need for constant, rapid-response air patrols from a forward base.
3. **Operational Consolidation:** The Government Flying Service (GFS), which replaced the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, consolidated its operations at more modern, centralized facilities, primarily its headquarters at Hong Kong International Airport (Chek Lap Kok). The GFS's modern helicopters have the range and speed to cover the border area effectively from their main base, making small, localized heliports like Sha Tau Kok redundant for routine operations.

The physical helipad, a concrete pad with a painted 'H' in a circle, still exists within the grounds of the Sha Tau Kok Police Station. However, it is no longer an officially registered and active heliport (the ICAO designator HK-0063 is defunct). The site's primary function is as part of the police station compound. The helipad is maintained in a usable condition and can be used on an ad-hoc or emergency basis by the Government Flying Service or the Hong Kong Police Force, but it does not support any regular or scheduled air traffic.

Sha Tau Kok Heliport was a strategically critical asset for border security during the British colonial era. Located inside the Sha Tau Kok Police Station within the Frontier Closed Area (FCA), it served as a forward operating base for air support right on the border with mainland China. It was extensively used by the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, British Army Air Corps, and Royal Air Force helicopters. Its key operations included:
- **Surveillance and Reconnaissance:** Patrolling the border fence to detect illegal immigrants and smugglers.
- **Rapid Deployment:** Quickly inserting police or military patrols into remote or inaccessible areas along the border.
- **Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC):** Providing emergency medical transport for security personnel and civilians in the isolated border region.
- **Logistical Support:** Transporting supplies and personnel to remote border posts.
The heliport was an integral part of the security infrastructure designed to control movement across the land border.

There are no known official plans or prospects to reopen Sha Tau Kok Heliport as a registered, active facility. The current operational model of the Government Flying Service, utilizing its main base at Chek Lap Kok and a secondary base at the former Kai Tak Airport, is deemed sufficient to provide air support services to the entire Hong Kong territory, including the border area. The strategic need for a dedicated forward heliport at this location has been superseded by the capabilities of modern aircraft and centralized command and control.