YAU-MA-TI AND LONG KOK SERVICE.
95
..t-
! Tedy and TODA
You love ()
+
.I.C.
210
Prior to about 1896 to 1897 no regular service to
Yau-ma-ti existed but casual Chinese launches carried on an
irregular service from piers erected for other purposes but
also used for ferry purposes.
►
In 1894 - or about that time
a regular ferry service
to Tad-ma-ti was run by Mr.Gordon and was carried out by
four launches running from Pottinger Street to Taumati. These
launches carried out a regular service but had no regular
hours. The launches waiting till a sufficient complement of
passengers was secured before starting the voyage. The
launches ran from a pier in Pottinger Street believed to have
belonged to the Government to various points in Yau-ma-ti,
sometimes to piers and sometimes to junks, access to the shore
being affixed by a gangway. The points where passengers were
landed being determined by the wishes of the passengers. The
fare was two cents. All four launches were not always
employed, the number used depending on the number of passengers
There were also various casual launches which ran
independently when not otherwise engaged charging the same
fare and using piers belonging to other parties for which
rent was paid. The Gordon launches service proved unprofit-
able and were withdrawn,
A man named Ng Lau Tong then took up the service, taking
over, it is believed, Gordon's launches, running a regular
service to and from the same pier at the same times and to
the same points that Gordon's launches used and charging the
same fares. This was about 1896. He also found it unprofit-
able and gave up the service,
The service was then taken up by a man named Tang Kan
Hing who employed four launches and ran from a pier by the
Harbour Master's office belonging to the Chi To Steam Launch
-1-
F