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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1977
GOVERNMENT HELPS VILLAGERS TO GET NEW BOAT
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THE GOVERNMENT HAS COME TO THE AID OF THE VILLAGERS ON A REMOTE ISLAND OFF SOUTH LANTAU COAST TO SOLVE THEIR TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM.
WITH A GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY, THE VILLAGERS OF TA! AH CHAU WILL SOON HAVE A NEW MOTORISED FERRY - THE ONLY MEANS BY WHICH THEY GET THEIR FARM PRODUCE TO THEIR TRADITIONAL MARKET PLACE ON CHEUNG CHAU. THE NEW FERRY WILL ALSO CARRY PASSENGERS TO AND FROM CHEUNG CHAU.
THE EXISTING BOAT WHICH THE VILLAGERS HAVE USED FOR SIX YEARS IS IN POOR CONDITION OF REPAIR AND THEY HAVE BOUGHT THEMSELVES A 76-FOOT SECOND HAND BOAT FOR CONVERSION. INTO A FERRY.
IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSITANCE BY THE VILLAGERS, THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE HAS ARRANGED FOR A GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY OF $35,000 TO HELP MEET THE CONVERSION COST.
THE SUBSIDY COMES FROM THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION'S LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS VOTE.
WITH ADVICE BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT, THE USED BOAT
IS TO BE CONVERTED INTO A +KA1 DO+ TYPE FERRY WITH SPACES FOR CARGO AND PASSENGERS.
THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. VICTOR YUNG, SAID TODAY, +TAI AH CHAU HAS A POPULATION OF ABOUT 150 PEOPLE WHO ARE MAINLY ENGAGED IN FARMING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BREEDING PIGS AND GROWING PINEAPPLES.+
+THEY WANT A NEW FERRY TO REPLACE THE ONE THEY HAVE BEEN USING, SO THEY HAVE BOUGHT A USED BOAT FOR $8,000 FOR CONVERSION.
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+ THE CONVERSION COST IS ESTIMATED AT $66,000. WITH A GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY OF $35,000, THE VILLAGERS HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO MEET THE REST OF THE COST, HE SAID,
MR. YUNG SAID THE AIM IN PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TOWARDS THE COST OF ACQUIRING A REPLACEMENT VESSEL WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE VILLAGERS WOULD HAVE A PROPER VESSEL FOR CARRYING PASSENGERS AND THE IR GOODS.
THE SERVICE WILL BE OPERATED ON A NON-PROFIT MAKING BASIS AND ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE OPERATION WILL BE USED TO MEET THE RUNNING AND MAINTENANCE OF THE VESSEL, HE SAID.
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