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facilities available for the handling of cargo and passengers in the Port have convinced traders that it is economical and generally beneficial to their interests to use Hong Kong as a warehousing, transhipping and bunkering point.
Safe berths are available to all vessels with draughts up to 36 feet, at all states of the tide. Commercial wharves can accom- modate vessels up to 750 feet in length and a maximum of 32 feet in draught, and the Government maintains for hire 50 moor- ings, 20 of which are specially designed to withstand typhoon conditions.
Cargo-handling compares favourably with the most advanced ports. Efficient modern methods, a plentiful supply of labour, lighterage, road-transport, and experienced staffs, capable of under- taking any operation from the stowage of special cargoes to the handling of heavy-lifts and bulk oils, make the Port popular with all connected with shipping. 750,000 measurement tons (mainland) and 230,000 measurement tons (Island) of godown space is equip- ped for ordinary, refrigerated and dangerous goods storage.
Ships' bunkers are supplied by three of the major oil companies, whilst coal and fresh water can be supplied alongside at any berth in the Port or at the oil-installation wharves. The supply of fresh water is generally only restricted in the dry winter months.
There are eleven cross-harbour ferry services, including one passenger-vehicular service. These services, operating frequent schedules, transported more than 128,000,000 people and 1,400,000 vehicles in 1958. There is also a number of ferry services operating outside the Harbour area to Aberdeen and coastal towns or villages of the New Territories. The more important ferry services are described in greater detail in Chapter 14.
It was announced in December that the terminal sites of the second vehicular-ferry service, mentioned on page 272 of the 1957 Annual Report, would be situated at the Kowloon City Ferry Concourse and at the North Point Sand Depot and not, as previously proposed, at Hung Hom and the North Point Housing Estate concourse.
Colony development is greatly assisted by native-type craft, of which more than 23,000 operate in Hong Kong waters. These are engaged in various occupations from fishing to the transport of