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COMMUNICATIONS
The proximity of Hong Kong to the Portuguese Colony of Macau attracts both tourists and residents to Macau. The facilities of the Hong Kong-Macau ferry terminal wharf have been further improved since regulations were implemented in January giving control of this terminal to the Director of Marine and additional alterations are planned to ensure greater ease of passenger processing and movement. The volume of passenger traffic on this route has in- creased from just over one million in 1962 to 3.19 million in 1971. Passenger services to Macau were disrupted for some weeks follow- ing typhoon Rose in August.
At present a large percentage of the cargo handled in Hong Kong is at some stage transported by lighters. Over two thousand lighters and junks are now used for this purpose and nearly a thousand of these are mechanised. Ships' own cargo gear is normally used for loading or discharging cargo alongside wharves or in the stream, but floating heavy lifting equipment is available in the port when required. Wharf and godown companies are fully aware of the advantages and increased productivity which can result from mech- anisation and adequate modern equipment is therefore available to speed the rapid and safe movement of goods between godowns, ships and lighters.
The development of container handling facilities within the port continued during the year. New equipment ordered for the handling of containers was delivered and is currently in use by the North Point Wharves Ltd and a Portainer crane was brought into use by the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co Ltd. Work proceeded at Kowloon Docks on the development of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company's facilities for the reception of con- tainer ships and the handling of containers. The three container terminals now being developed in the Rambler Channel area at Kwai Chung, are going ahead on schedule. At the end of the year, tenders were called for the development of a further container berth and back-up area. Dredging began during the year to prepare for the reception of container vessels when the Kwai Chung container terminals are brought into operation. Container ships and other vessels of deep draught and higher speed are likely to make greater use of the West Lamma Channel in future and the Marine Depart- ment is considering further improvements in the provision of navi- gational aids for ships which will be proceeding to the Kwai Chung berths.
Good bunkering facilities are provided in the port and vessels may be supplied with fuel oil either at the wharves of oil terminals