TRANSPORT
207
million tonnes of general goods from ocean-going vessels; 58 per cent of this was containerised cargo.
Although containerisation is a major cargo transport method, a considerable amount of dry cargo handled in Hong Kong is transported at some stage by lighters and junks. About 2000 of these were operating at the end of 1984, and 27 per cent were mechanised. Break-bulk cargo is normally handled using ships' gear, but floating heavy-lift cranes are available when required.
On average, ships working cargo at harbour moorings are in port for two-and-a-half to three days and container ships at the Kwai Chung terminals remain for about 13 hours. These are probably the fastest turn-round times for ships at any port in the Far East.
Other wharves and terminals provided and operated by private enterprise are capable of accommodating vessels up to 305 metres in length with draughts up to 14.6 metres. Cargo handling facilities in the public sector include cargo working areas at Wan Chai, Yau Ma Tei, Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong, Western District, Rambler Channel and Chai Wan. These areas are administered by the Marine Department. Government policy calls for the provision of public cargo working areas throughout Hong Kong to maintain swift and efficient internal cargo movement.
The port of Hong Kong handled a total of 2.10 million TEUS (20-foot equivalent units) in 1984. The container terminals at Kwai Chung at present provide six berths with more than 2 300 metres of quay backed by about 88 hectares of cargo handling area. This area includes container yards and container freight stations, all of which are operated by private companies or consortia. Up to six 'third generation' container ships can berth simul- taneously at the container terminals. A mobile floating roll-on roll-off ramp is provided by a container terminal operator at Kwai Chung who, in addition, has a 12-storey multi- purpose godown in operation. This godown has a usable floor area of 52 400 square metres and the first two floors serve as a container freight station. Nearby, at Tsuen Wan, there is a 16-storey godown with a usable floor area of 52 600 square metres, equipped with container lifts serving all floors. A six-storey cargo distribution and handling centre, one of the largest of its kind in the world, is being constructed in Kwai Chung and will more than double the operator's present container capacity.
The demands of modern shipping necessitate a continuous review of existing port facilities and during the year the Marine Department, with co-operation from other government departments, commenced a Port Development Strategy Study to examine the needs of the port to the year 2001. The views of the shipping industry in general are being sought during the study, which is expected to be completed in August 1985.
Although Hong Kong already ranks as the leading container port in Asia and among the top three in the world, further expansion has become necessary in order to cope with the continuing increase in throughput. Work began in July on the reclamation of some 26 hectares of land at Kwai Chung Creek. This is the first in a series of projects designed to increase the capacity of the container terminals at Kwai Chung.
During the year, 8.6 million passengers were carried between Hong Kong and Macau. The vessels plying this route include jetfoils, hydrofoils, jetcats, hoverferries and conven- tional ferries operating from either of two ferry terminals: the temporary Hong Kong- Macau Ferry Terminal on Hong Kong Island and the Sham Shui Po-Macau Ferry Terminal in Kowloon.
The construction of a permanent Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Central District will be completed in mid-1985. The new terminal will be capable of handling up to 15 million passengers annually.