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their ferries, while the leases of the piers used by the Star Ferry Company would be renewed, subject to the payment
of a suitable annual sum. The question as to the amount of
that payment can, no doubt, be settled by negotiation with
the Company.
A point however arises in connection with the Star Ferry pier at Kowloon. The existing site is not quite suitable and is congested, hence an idea has been put forward to build a new pier as shown on the plan attached. This scheme has much to favour it, but it might well be left
over for consideration at some future time when the
congestion becomes greater.
The scheme of reclamation between the junction of Queen Victoria Street with Connaught Road and the junction
of Murray Road with Connaught Road, already referred to, when carried out will displace the Star Ferry Company's pier
at the end of Ice House Street. In this case the same
policy as for other piers should be applied. The Harbour
Trust could construct the new ferry pier or the Ferry company
could do so themselves, as might be negotiated, the rent
being fixed accordingly.
With regard to the Jubilee Street ferry pier which
is used by the Yaumati Ferry Company for their vehicular
ferry service, it appears that the existing service is
becoming unable to cope adequately with the great number of
vehicles that desire to cross the ferry at times. This leads
to delay and congestion to traffic in the vicinity, which
would be intensified by any growth in the passenger traffic.
Coupled with this is the fact that in the event of
extensive repairs being required to the existing pier a
stoppage of the service might occur. Further the present
pier is in a somewhat exposed position which makes it