COMMUNICATIONS
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South America and other countries in the Far East. Frequent and fast services are maintained to Macau by ferries and hydrofoils.
Two years ago the Marine Department recognized the need for improving wharf facilities for passengers travelling to Macau. The volume of passenger traffic rose from just over a million in 1961-2 to more than two-and-a-half million in 1966-7. Several new buildings have been built for the use of passengers and ferry operators, and they form a complex known as the Hong Kong-Macau Hydrofoil and Ferry Terminal.
The Marine Department maintains 68 moorings for ocean-going freighters. Of these, 41 are classified as suitable for use by vessels of up to 600 feet in length and 27 for vessels of up to 450 feet. When the Port Buoyage Improvement Scheme has been fully im- plemented, 73 moorings for ocean-going shipping will be available. Commercial wharves can accommodate ships not exceeding 1,000 feet in length and with draughts of up to 36 feet.
The ocean terminal, opened last year, is one of the best-equipped in the world. Its self-contained shopping centre has more than 100 shops on two floors. It also has night clubs, car parks and exhibition areas and visitors and passengers are catered for by banking, travel, telegraphic and typing services. At ground level there are seven- and-a-half acres of wharf and transit shed space. The terminal provides berthing for four ocean-going liners and has 190,000 square feet of apron space on its marine deck for cargo handling. Wharf and godown companies have a total cargo storage capacity, for all types of goods, of more than a million tons. Transhipment cargo facilities and services are also provided. Most cargo handled in Hong Kong is at some stage transported by lighter or junk, and an adequate number of this type of craft is always available for hire.
It became apparent early in 1966 that great impetus was being given to the development of container cargo services throughout the world. A Container Committee was appointed under the chair- manship of the Director of Marine, comprising representatives of manufacturing, exporting and shipping organizations, and of the relevant government departments. It has been discussing the prob- lems and ramifications for Hong Kong of containerization since