PUBLIC UTILITIES AND PUBLIC WORKS
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crossings during the year, the average daily load being 101,477
persons.
The Hongkong & Yaumati Ferry Co., Ltd. began operations on the 1st January 1924 with eleven small wooden steam-vessels serving three cross-harbour routes. Today, the Company operates a fleet of fifty diesel-engined vessels which maintain six cross- harbour ferry services as well as ferry services to outlying districts in the New Territories.
The routes inside the Harbour are between Wilmer Street, Jubilee Street, Stewart Road and Tonnochy Road on the Island, and Sham Shui Po, Mong Kok, Jordan Road and Kowloon City on Kowloon peninsula. The Company also operates the sole vehicular ferry service between Jubilee Street and Jordan Road. In 1959, the Company competed successfully for the right to operate the proposed eastern vehicular ferry service between North Point and Kowloon City. In order to ease cross-harbour vehicular traffic congestion until the commencement of this new vehicular ferry service scheduled for 1961, the Company will initiate a temporary vehicular ferry service from Rumsey Street to Jordan Road in early 1960.
During 1959 a record number of 94,605,000 passengers and 1,492,000 vehicles were carried, an increase of 860,000 passengers and 66,620 vehicles over the previous year's figures. The Kowloon City/Wan Chai ferry service again carried an increasing flow of traffic and the number of passengers carried was 6,846,000 com- pared with 5,670,000 in 1958.
Of the ferry services to outlying districts, that to Cheung Chau was well supported throughout the year. During the summer months large numbers of holidaymakers visited Silvermine Bay and Peng Chau and the opening of the first stretch of the Lantau Island circular road attracted parties of motor cyclists to explore new territory. During cooler weather, the Hong Kong to Tai O ferry service via Kap Shui Mun, Castle Peak and Tung Chung carried many pilgrims and hikers for the monasteries of Lantau Island. The Tolo Harbour ferry service which carried 82,000 passengers in 1959 provides a welcome link with the outside world for isolated villages along the shores of Tolo Harbour, and in 1959 the Government completed a pier at Lai Chi Chong which was appreciated by all users. The Government also constructed