COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT
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ships remaining in port during tropical storms. Additionally, safe anchorages are available for large, deep draught vessels. Commercial wharves are capable of accom- modating vessels of up to 1,000 feet in length with draughts up to 40 feet.
Quarantine and immigration facilities are available on a 24-hour basis at the Western Quarantine Anchorage and from 6.30 am to 6 pm at the Eastern Quarantine Anchorage. The extended service at the Western Anchorage reflects the greater use of the western approaches. Ships are normally cleared inwards on arrival and large passenger vessels are processed en route to their allocated berths. Advance immigra- tion clearance and radio pratique may be obtained by certain vessels on application.
Navigational aids in the harbour and approaches are constantly being improved to ensure safe access to and from the port. All fairway buoys are lighted and many beacons are fitted with radar reflectors. A network of signal stations at Waglan Island, Green Island, North Point, and the Marine Department Port Communications Centre are all inter-connected by telephone, radio-telephone and teleprinter circuits. A modified Hague Plan VHF (radio-telephone) Port Operations Service is also operated by the Marine Department, ensuring comprehensive marine communication through- out the harbour and its approaches. Although pilotage in the waters of Hong Kong is not compulsory, it is considered advisable in view of the density of marine traffic and the scale of harbour works continuously being undertaken.
Surveillance of fairways, typhoon shelters and cargo working areas is effectively undertaken by Marine Department launch patrols. The launches are in continuous radio contact with the Port Communications Centre, enabling the centre to initiate and co-ordinate any action required by unusual circumstances. A fleet of modern fire-fighting vessels, operated by the Fire Services Department, is kept in a state of readiness and units are stationed on both sides of the harbour. These and other government vessels are equipped with oil pollution control equipment. The pollution control unit of the Marine Department is responsible for the detection and control of oil pollution within the waters of Hong Kong. The harbour cleansing unit removes floating refuse from the main harbour and typhoon shelters. A refuse collection service for ocean-going ships is in operation.
Although the tonnage of cargo carried in containers continues to increase, a large percentage of the dry cargo handled in Hong Kong is still at some stage tran- sported by lighters. About 2,000 lighters and junks are used for this purpose and nearly half of these are mechanised. Shipboard cargo gear is normally used for loading and discharging cargo alongside wharves or in the stream but floating heavy lift cranes are available when required. Wharf and godown companies are fully aware of the advantages and increased productivity which result from mechanisation, and modern equipment is being increasingly used to facilitate the rapid turnround of ships.
Four terminals at Kwai Chung cater for container ships of up to 60,000 gross tons calling at the port on scheduled services. The fourth terminal came into operation in 1975 and the development of two more new berths is under way. The existing terminals together occupy 150 acres of reclaimed land and have complete back-up services which include marshalling yards, cranes, ancillary equipment and large container freight stations. Berths 1, 2, 3 and 4 are operated respectively by Modern