TRANSPORT
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New boundary crossings under planning
To meet the increasing demand in cross boundary travel, the Government is discussing with Mainland authorities the possibility of opening new boundary crossings. For road crossings, projects under planning include the Shenzhen Western Corridor which is intended for completion in 2004–2005. For rail crossings, the second rail passenger crossing at Huanggang/Lok Ma Chau is under planning with an target opening date of 2004. It will be connected to the Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line on the Hong Kong side and to the Shenzhen Metro on the Mainland side.
Cross-boundary Ferries
Cross-boundary ferry services to the Mainland and Macau are operated from the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui and the Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan. At the end of 1999, nine operators provided ferry services to Macau and 24 ports in China. In 1999, the sea passenger throughput to the Mainland and Macau totalled 3.1 million and five million, representing decreases of 2.5 per cent and 6.8 per cent from 1998, respectively.
There are 12 berths in the China Ferry Terminal, which began operation in 1988. At the end of 1999, ferry services to Macau and 24 ports in China were operated from the terminal. During the year, the terminal handled 2.6 million Mainland-bound passengers and 0.59 million Macau-bound passengers.
The Macau Ferry Terminal, which commenced operation in 1985, has eight berths. At the end of 1999, ferry services to Macau and four ports in China were operated. During the year, the terminal handled 0.48 million Mainland-bound passengers and 4.4 million bound for Macau.
Marine Facilities
The Civil Engineering Department is responsible for the planning, design and construction of public marine facilities including piers, beacons, breakwaters, seawalls, navigation channels and anchorage areas. In 1999, the department
In 1999, completed substantially the Hei Ling Chau Typhoon Shelter and 450-metre-long vertical seawalls for the Stage 1 Reclamation at Tuen Mun Area 38, the jetties and dolphins at the Government Dockyard on Stonecutters Island and the modification to the northern breakwater of the China Ferry Terminal. It started construction of a fireboat berth at the West Kowloon Reclamation and of a pier at Tai Pai Kok and the reconstruction of the Tung Lung Chau public pier. Planning began for the reprovisioning of a pier for the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Market, and the reconstruction of the pier at Lung Kwu Chau. Besides this, the department continued with planning for the Siu Lam typhoon shelter, the Tang Lung Chau dangerous goods anchorage, a sheltered boat anchorage at Tai O, and the reconstruction of the public piers at Pak Sha Wan, Hei Ling Chau, Tai Lam Chung, Castle Peak, Peng Chau, Cheung Chau, Kat O Chau and Wu Kai Sha.
The Civil Engineering Department is also responsible for the maintenance of public marine facilities. It carries out routine inspections and makes repairs to public marine structures including seawalls, breakwaters, beacons and piers (including ferry piers). It is responsible for maintenance dredging in anchorage areas, typhoon shelters, rivers and navigation channels. In 1999, the department maintained 105 kilometres of seawalls and 290 piers and dredged approximately three million cubic metres of