The city of Nago in Okinawa Prefecture is likely to choose a reef off the island as the site for a military-civilian airport that will accommodate the heliport functions of the U.S. Futenma Air Station in the prefecture, the city mayor said Tuesday.

Tateo Kishimoto expressed the opinion for the first time to reporters after he met with Koji Omi, minister in charge of Okinawa issues, to discuss the heliport issue at the Cabinet Office in Tokyo.

"The city of Nago would like to consider the plan to build the airport on the reef in accordance with the request by locals," he said.

The central government put forward eight proposals in June for relocating the heliport functions of the U.S. Futenma Air Station.

Five of these are based on reclaiming land inside, outside, or on a reef off the northeast coast of the island, two propose employing a landing pier, and one features floating facilities.

A special committee of Nago's Henoko district -- where the reef is located -- on Oct. 30 chose the reef plan.

It is almost certain that the city will officially confirm the plan as soon as the Okinawa Prefectural Government approves the committee's decision.

Kishimoto told Omi during the meeting that the city government intends to pick the plan after holding a conference on the heliport issues by the end of this year.

Kishimoto told reporters after the meeting that he wanted to compile the local population's collective opinion on the site and scale of the airport, although he admitted it would be difficult to determine the construction method.

Omi is expected to meet with Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine on today to discuss the heliport, including measures to persuade those residents of Henoko opposed to the airport.

Many residents near the proposed site, concerned about noise pollution and accidents, have demanded that the airport be built smaller and beyond the reef.

Japan and the United States agreed in 1996 that the Futenma base -- located in a residential area in Ginowan -- would be returned to Japan in five to seven years on the condition that Tokyo provides an alternative site in Okinawa.

Building a military-civilian airport, instead of relocating just the heliport function, was an election campaign pledge of Inamine during the 1998 gubernatorial election.