A site on northwest Lantau Island is likely to be chosen for a French aeronautical services company to build a factory that will house Hong Kong’s first aircraft dismantling business, the Post has learned.

Sources on Tuesday said the site at To Kau Wan was deemed suitable because of its proximity to Hong Kong International Airport and convenient access to existing infrastructure, including roads and a pier that could accommodate barges.

The area is currently being used to temporarily store an Emirates cargo plane operated by ACT Airlines that veered off a runway at the airport in October last year, killing two people in a security patrol vehicle.

The wreckage remains at To Kau Wan as an investigation into the crash continues.

The Elior Group, a subsidiary of the Derichebourg Group, has made finding a suitable site for its aircraft dismantling business a priority since establishing its Asia headquarters in Hong Kong and launching local talent training.