HOVERCRAFTS AND FERRIES
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(South China Morning Post: June 16)
A team of top executives of the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company are negotiating with Chinese Government officials in Canton on the possibility of introducing an inter-city hoverferry service, sources said last night.
They said the service could begin in the "very near future" if the Chinese give it the green-light.
The negotiating team, which is believed to include the ferry company's general manager, Mr. Edmond Lau, went to Canton by hoverferry on Tuesday.
The sources said the trip was a trial run to allow company officials to check on conditions during the voyage and the time it would take to get to Canton.
The sources said the HYF's hoverferries can make the Hongkong-Canton run in one hour and 15 minutes about the same time as a hydrofoil trip to Macau.
(Star: August 16)
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Mr. Lau confirmed that one of the company's present crafts sailed to Canton on June 13 and returned here three days later.
(South China Morning Post: August 16)
Hovercraft will likely be used to shuttle passengers; between Hongkong and Canton if talks between the Hongkong Yaumati Ferry Company and the Kwangtung authority succeed.
The company's general manager, Mr. Edmond Lau, said yesterday that negotiations for such a service had been going on for months.
(Wah Kiu Yat Po: August 16)
The harbour routes of the Yaumati Ferry Company have been affected by the operation of the Cross Harbour Tunnel and the situation will deteriorate when the MTR becomes operational in 1980. The new ferry services between Hong Kong and Canton will help boost the company's business.
(Tin Tin Daily News: August 20)
In an exclusive interview with the paper yesterday, the Chairman of Shun Tak Shipping Company. Mr. Henry Fok said the company has studied the feasibility of operating a direct ferry service to Canton.
Although Shun Tak Shipping Company has made various preparations, he said, it has still to wait for a notification from the Chiense authorities. As far as the Hong Kong Government was concerned, there was no problem, he said.
He said if such a service came into operation, ferries capable of carrying about 1,000 passengers each will be used. As the hovercraft service of the Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry Company will operate during the day only, he said, the ferry service will be run at night.
(Hongkong Standard: August 21)
A ferry service may be run between Hongkong and Canton if the scheme receives the green light from the Chinese authorities, it was reported yesterday.
The passenger ferry service will be run by Shun Tak Shipping Company which
currently runs ferry services between Hongkong and Macao.
The company is said to have submitted a plan for the reconstruction of the present Hongkong-Macao ferry pier in Sheungwan and it embraces draft planning for a new pier for the Hongkong-Canton service.
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