The Airport Authority today declared a total of $4.5 billion in dividends, composed of an ordinary dividend of $2.3 billion and a special dividend of $2.2 billion, to its sole shareholder the Hong Kong Government.

The authority's chief executive officer Stanley Hui said in view of its strong financial position, the board declared the special dividend out of previous accumulated retained profits.

The authority has paid $18.98 billion, including $12.98 billion in dividends and $6 billion in capital repayment, to the Government since the 2003-04 financial year.

For the year ending March 31, the authority reported profit attributable to its equity shareholder surged 9.9% to $2.844 billion over the previous year. Revenue grew 1.5% to $9.015 billion, while return on equity rose 7.8%.

Passenger and air-traffic movements at Hong Kong International Airport recorded year-on-year declines of 1.7% and 5.4% to 46.9 million and 280,000 tonnes. Cargo throughput, however, registered 3.6 million tonnes, representing growth of 4.4% over the same period.

"We were able to achieve sound and satisfactory results despite the challenging market due to strict cost controls, productivity gains, increased revenue from retail operations as well as an improving economic climate starting from the fourth quarter of 2009," Mr Hui said.

"Growing non-aeronautical revenue not only provided the authority with a strong income stream, but also offset the revenue reduction of $242 million resulting from a relief package comprising landing and parking charge reductions and deferred rental payments during the year."