主席報告
Chairman's Statement
建議中之中環渡輪碼頭上蓋發展計劃
本集團自一九二零年代起,一直擁有港內外線渡輪 服務之專利權。過去十多年,由於過海隧道及地下 鐵路等等因素,本集團在專利渡輪業務之利潤每況 愈下,該業務已不能提供一個合理之回報率。
為拓展收入來源,集團致力分散業務至地產及證券 投資,尤其在近年更積極尋求方法,如藉著發展碼 頭上蓋及毗連物業,以彌補渡輪服務不斷下降之收 益
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長久以來,政府均清楚知道集團在渡輪服務之收 入,日益減少,同時,繼續提供若干無利可圖之渡 輪航線,困難重重。根據現行之渡輪專利權條例, 假如政府授權在任何碼頭進行商業發展,專利權公 司將有優先從事有關發展之權利。
舊中環碼頭之所在地點已被納入中區填海工程範圍 內,以興建機場鐵路香港站。填海後,集團將獲分 配四個新渡輪碼頭,繼續提供渡輪服務。
自中區填海工程計劃刊登於憲報後,集團即就未來 中環渡輪碼頭之商業發展計劃,加緊與政府磋商, 最後政府同意允許集團自資及自負風險在新碼頭進 行足以承重商業上蓋之打樁工程,惟上蓋興建,仍 有待政府之決定。為此,本公司及附屬專利權公 司,香港油蔴地小輪船有限公司,於一九九三年底 與政府簽署協議書,負責有關地基工程之額外承重 費用。董事會採取此項決策,乃鑑於若待政府作出 決定後方更改地基設計,費用將會十分昂貴,而且 亦未必可行。因此,為集團利益起見,打樁工程需 於即時進行,以便一政府作出決定時,便可立即 進行建議中之發展計劃。再者,董事會亦有鑑於參 予是項計劃研究之有關政府部門及決策科之支持, 及堅信政府將會履行在專利權條例中作出之承諾, 讓專利權公司優先發展渡輪碼頭。
據悉,政府現正積極考慮集團之建議:一俟政府作 出決定,股東將會獲得知會,惟各股東於目前階 段,在評估此事之可能結果時,應抱審慎之態度。
The Proposed Development of the Central Ferry Piers
The Group had held the franchise for cross harbour ferry services and ferry services to the outlying islands since the 1920s. Over the years, the profitability of the franchised ferry operations of the Group has deteriorated due to the availability of alternative cross harbour services and the Mass Transit Railway and other factors. The franchised ferry operations failed to generate a reasonable return for many years.
The Group has sought to widen its income base by diversifying its activities into investment in properties and listed securities. In particular, the Group has for some time sought the opportunity to provide more viable ferry operations by incorporating property development projects above and adjacent to the ferry piers in order to supplement the declining income from the provision of ferry services.
The Government had for long recognized the general decline in the Group's revenues from ferry services and the Group's difficulties in providing certain unprofitable ferry routes. Under the existing ferry franchise, if the Government should authorize the commercial development of any pier, the ferry franchisee shall have the first option to so develop such pier.
The areas of the Central piers for the ferry services included in the franchise are within the areas involved in the Central Reclamation required for the construction of the Hong Kong Terminus of the Airport Railway. The reclamation will provide a new waterfront at which four new ferry piers will be allocated to the Group's ferry services.
With the gazetting of the Central Reclamation, the Group's discussions with Government regarding commercial development of the new Central Ferry Piers have intensified, culminating in Government's agreement to allow the Group to proceed at its own cost and risk with piling works in the new piers allowing for redevelopment of the piers incorporating a commercial development on upper floors, pending a final decision of the Government. In this connection, the Company and its subsidiary, The Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited, the franchisee of the ferry services, have entered into an Indemnity Agreement with the Government in late 1993. Your directors have taken this course firstly because the cost of changing designs after Government's decision would be very substantial, even if the changes were possible. It was therefore in the interest of the Group to proceed with the piling works now so that the proposed development can proceed as soon as a decision is made by the Government. Secondly, your directors have taken this decision because of the favourable expressions of support by the relevant Government departments and policy branches involved in discussions over the project and upon the faith of the commitment of the Government in the franchise to give the Group the first option to develop any pier.
We understand that the Government is actively considering the Group's proposal and shareholders will be kept informed of the final decision of the Government. In the meantime, shareholders should of course exercise caution in assessing the eventual possible outcome of the matter.
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