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Wah Kiu Yat Po pointed out that the Cross Harbour Tunnel had affected the finances of HYF company, as would the MTR when it came into operation. Therefore, the proposed new ferry service would help boost the company's business.
Some papers quoted Mr. Henry Fok, chairman of the Shun Tak Shipping Company as saying that his company was studying feasibility plans for a ferry service to Canton.
He told the papers that if such a service were permitted, ferries capable of carrying about 1,000 passengers would be used, similar to the "present fleet of ferries plying between Hongkong and Macau," and would operate at night when hovercrafts had ceased their day-time service.
In early September, most papers reported that the Shun Tak Shipping Company had applied to the Kwangtung authorities for permission to operate a hydrofoil service between Hong Kong and Canton.
They said that the service would begin before the Autumn Trade Fair opened on October 15. They also said that negotiations had been going on for some months and a satisfactory conclusion had been reached.
It was believed the company would also run a ferry service between the two cities and would make use of the existing immigration services at the Hong Kong - Macau Ferry terminal, the papers said.
At the same time the papers reported that the Executive Council would be
considering a plan for a new Hong Kong-Macau ferry terminal.
The new terminal was estimated to cost between $150 and $200 million, and it would be a 40-storey building with office premises for the Immigration and Customs and Excise Service, they said.
The papers reported in mid-September that the Hongkong Yaumati Ferry Company and the Shun Tak Shipping Company were locked in "a close contest for the right to operate a ferry service between Hong Kong and Canton."
There was speculation on what might have taken place behind the scenes. (Two extracts relative to this matter are to be found in the Appendix.)
Most papers picked up Ta Kung Pao's story of September 23, that a hovercraft
service would commence on November 15.
The paper said the Hong Kong & Yaumati Ferry Company had reached agreement with the Kwangtung provincial navigation authorities to operate the service between Tai Kok Tsui Ferry Pier and Whampoa.
The 69 nautical-miles trip would take about two hours and passengers would be taken from Whampoa by coach to Canton. Tickets would be sold by China Travel Services. and a single ticket would cost $60, said the paper.
The South China Morning Post said it was believed that "the ferry company has secured an exclusive franchise to operate the sea link". But the Star in an interview with Mr. Stanley Ho quoted him as saying he was confident that the Shun Tak Shipping Company would soon be able to start operating ferries between Hong Kong and Canton.
The Star quoted him further as saying "the chances were very good" despite a
report that the HYF company had been given the franchise.
The papers generally welcomed the news of the sea link and most of them said it was the wish of the people to establish direct transport links between Hong Kong and China.
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