3
Wednesday, May 3, 1972
CHA KWO LING RESIDENTS SUFFER HARDSHIP
Because Of Stoppage Of Ferry Call
The stoppage of the passenger ferry service calling at Cha Kwo
Ling is causing hardship to residents there, a Transport Department
spokesman said today.
He said the Transport and Marine Department sympathised with
residents of Cha Kwo Ling but had no legal powers to force the ferry
operator to resume his service.
"Instead, attempts are being made to see whether the Kowloon
Motor Bus Company and motor-boat operators would be prepared to run
temporary services over the festival period," he added.
The suspended ferry service, which ran between Shau Kei Wan
and Kwun Tong via Cha Kwo Ling, was operated under a monthly licence
issued by the Director of Marine.
The spokesman said that three weeks ago, the operator gave notice
that he proposed to suspend the service in order to repair the pier at
Cha Kwo Ling.
"Despite the efforts of the Transport and Marine Departments to
persuade the operator to make temporary use of another nearby pier or to
do the repairs after the last ferry in the evening, he has nonetheless stopped
the service for the last three weeks.
"The repairs have now been completed but the ferry company shows
no signs of resuming the service.
"Local Cha Kwo Ling residents are inconvenienced, and particularly
upset because the ferry stoppage threatens to reduce the number of visitors
to their annual opera held from May 5 to 12 in connection with the Tin Hau
Festival," the spokesman said.
14