TRANSPORT
Apart from residents' services, non-franchised bus operators also serve the needs of factory employees, tourists and students on a group hire basis. At the end of 1992, the licensed fleet of non-franchised buses totalled 4011 vehicles, of which 288 were double- deckers. An increasing proportion of these vehicles were air-conditioned.
Ferries
Ferries remain a well-used mode for crossing the harbour. They also provide an important transport link to the new towns in north-west New Territories and are essential for travelling to Hong Kong's outlying islands. Existing services are provided largely by two franchised operators Star Ferry Company Limited (SF) and the Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited (HYF).
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SF operates 12 vessels across the harbour and, during the year, carried 35.8 million passengers on its three routes. Fares ranged from $1 to $1.5.
HYF owned 73 licensed vessels and operated 23 ferry routes, including passenger and vehicular services across the harbour, hoverferry services to north-west New Territories, services to the outlying islands and charter services. In 1992, the company carried 112 500 passengers and 6 600 vehicles daily. A cross-harbour trip cost $3.3 for a passenger and $4 for a private car. Fares for passenger services to the new towns range from $5 to $15 and the outlying islands from $4.50 to $23.
Fourteen other ferry services were operated by eight licensed operators, including the service to Discovery Bay, Lantau. These were supplemented by kaitos, or local village ferry services, which were licensed to serve remote coastal settlements. At the end of the year, 109 kaitos were in operation, run by 94 operators.
The Port of Hong Kong
Hong Kong is the largest container port in the world. In 1992 it handled almost eight million TEUS (20-foot equivalent units). It is also one of the busiest world ports in terms of vessel arrivals and cargo and passenger throughput. Some 146 000 ocean-going and river trade vessels arrive in Hong Kong annually, handling over 100 million tonnes of cargo, and 19 million international passengers, the majority of whom are carried on the world's largest fleet of high speed ferries operating to neighbouring China and Macau. Forecast growth in cargo (particularly containers) and passenger throughput have resulted in planning and development of new port facilities to meet a doubling of current demand by 2006.
With limited and diminishing water area to accommodate the current and forecast levels of port activity, marine safety and navigational efficiency are a major concern. To address these matters, the waters of Hong Kong are covered by a modern computer/radar Vessel Traffic System, run by the Marine Department of the Hong Kong Government. Its effectiveness, coupled with a comprehensive system of aids to navigation, fairways, marine traffic separation schemes, and harbour patrols, has contributed to Hong Kong's continuing low level of marine accidents by world standards.
Hong Kong is a prominent centre for ship owning, ship financing and ship management activities, and local ship owners and ship managers control a significant percentage of the world's tonnage. The territory operates the Hong Kong Shipping Register which reflects the government's long-term commitment to the highest international standards of maritime safety while recognising commercial realities.
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