Photographers lined the perimeter fence and packed every possible vantage point to get a picture of Jumbo jets skimming over the Kowloon rooftops to land on the Kai Tak airport for the last time.

An elaborate security operation was to be implemented for the switch over from Kai Tak to the new Chek Lap Kok airport on Sunday night.

Some 1,000 vehicles were to take part in 16 convoys taking equipment from the city airport to Chek Lap Kok on reclaimed land off Lantau island around 28 km away.

Key roads between the two will be cut off to ease transport arrangements.Heavy rains and thunderstorms have been forecasted, which authorities fear will slow proceedings.

The final flights out of the 73-year-old Kai Tak airport will take off at about 3.30 p m (GMT).

A Cathay Pacific flight will depart for Paris and Manchester, and a ChinaAirlines plane will leave for Taipei.

Hong Kong's director of civil aviation Richard Siegel, accompanied by the chief secretary for administration Anson Chan, and financial secretary Donald Tsang will turn off the runway lights at 5.00 p m (GMT).

Crowds of onlookers swarmed to Kai Tak for a final glimpse of the old airport, despite pleas by police and airport authorities to stay away.

The airport a former royal airforce base was originally intended to be a property development project and has played a big part in Hong Kong's colonial history.

A multi-storey car park next to the airport, which offers a good view over the runway, was crammed with spectators on each of its top four levels.

Families gathered in the terminal building to take last-minute photographs and videos.

Moroccon Rigo Rentria, a former Hong Kong resident, said, ``I think it is a shame, people will miss the old place. It is small but it does the job.''

Pilots who have spent years negotiating the tricky approach into theairport, between mountains on either side, sweeping down above Kowloon's tower blocks to land at the right spot on the runway, also expressed regret.

Air Canada Pilot Michael Wood said, ``I think there is some nostalgia. It was a real thrill to fly in.''

``But there were problems low cloud cover, you abort and try again. At the new airport you will be able to fly in under cloud. Wind shear could be a bigger problem at the new airport but there is a good warning system,'' he said.

Frank Crocker, a Bangkok-based small plane pilot, added, ``Oh yes, pilots will miss Kai Tak. You have to really fly it especially in bad weather, one or two degrees out and you just can't land.''

``It is one of the last real challenges for pilots.''

Passengers said they will miss the convenience of the old airport, situated in the heart of the Kowloon Peninsula.