Chapter 15: Communications
MARINE
The Port of Victoria, world-famous for its magnificent harbour, is not only outstanding in beauty, but is a safe anchorage and the main typhoon refuge in the China Sea. It is also one of the busiest ports of the world and is justly proud of a reputation for efficient handling of passengers and cargo, and also for a turn-round of shipping which compares favourably with other major ports.
The Port is well supplied with commercial wharves and piers, the principal ones being on the mainland of Kowloon. The largest berths can accommodate vessels up to 750 ft. in length with a maximum draft of 32 ft. Storage space is plentiful, with warehouses (godowns) on the mainland pro- viding 750,000 measurement tons of storage space, and on the Island 230,000 tons. The godowns are equipped with electric cranes and other modern handling devices.
In addition to these wharf facilities, the Government maintains for hire 50 moorings, comprising 21 "A" class buoys, suitable for vessels up to 600 ft. in length, and 29 "B" Class, for vessels up to 450 ft. 16 of the "A" Class buoys are of special strength to meet typhoon conditions.
During the year ending 31 March 1955, (the figures for 1954 are shown in brackets) 7,589 (7,344) ocean-going vessels of 21,879,742 (21,113,305) nett tons, 2,068 (2,306) river steamers of 2,418,006 (2,258,283) nett tons, and 22,131 (21,756) junks and launches of 1,458,761 (1,358,711) nett tons, entered and cleared the Port.
A total of 775,556 (769,961) passengers were embarked and disembarked; of these 56,164 (56,651) were carried by ocean-going vessels, and 719,392 (713,310) by river steamers.
Weight tons of cargo discharged and loaded were as follows:
Ocean-going vessels: River steamers: Junks and launches:
...
Discharged
Loaded
3,408,963 (2,799,945) 1,367,208 (1,324,073)
24,045 (21,559)
14,056 (34,840)
411,977 (354,885)
132,398 (96,551)