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TRANSPORT
District boards were consulted on the results of the pilot scheme and were asked to advise on whether a full system should be introduced. The general reaction was negative with nine district boards voting against the implementation of ERP and 10 boards favouring a postponement of a decision. In December, the Governor in Council directed that a full ERP system should not be introduced for the time being but that it should be reconsidered at a later stage. Serious consideration is now being given to the possibility of using the ERP technology as a means of collecting tolls at tunnels.
Port Development and Shipping Services
As one of the world's major ports, Hong Kong has earned a world-wide reputation for efficiency in continuing to meet the increasing demands of modern shipping requirements. The tonnage of shipping visiting the port,, the volume of cargo handled and the passenger numbers reflect the optimum utilisation' of all port facilities. Victoria Harbour, lying between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, is regarded as one of the most perfect natural harbours in the world. It has an area of 5 000 hectares, and varies in width from 1.2 to 9.6 kilometres, and is the only deepwater port on the coast of southern China.
The administration of the port is the responsibility of the Director of Marine. He is advised by various committees through which the closest liaison with shipping and commercial interests is maintained to ensure that facilities and services are developed to meet the changing needs of Hong Kong and of ships using the port.
In 1985, some 13 250 ocean-going vessels and 79 740 river-trade vessels called at Hong Kong and loaded and discharged more than 53 million tonnes of cargo. This included 35 million tonnes of general goods from ocean-going vessels; 37 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 1985, and 26 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, Chai Wan and Sham Shui Po. 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 2.25 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) in 1985. 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 simultaneously 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,