Pleasure vessels not safe to be used as ferries
The Marine Department appeals to residents in Tuen Mun not to commute in pleasure vessels to Central as such craft are not safe to serve as ferries.
This appeal is issued after handbills were reported to be found in the vicinity of Tuen Mun Ferry Pier, advertising a company is providing a "water cab" service at a charge of $80 per person per trip from Tuen Mun to Central.
The advertisement said the company was using pleasure vessels to take passengers and guaranteed that they would arrive in Central before 9 am.
The spokesman said pleasure vessels were not allowed to be used as ferries as their design and safety equipment were not catered for carrying large number of
passengers.
"Masters and owners of pleasure vessels are aware that their licensing conditions do not permit them to use their vessels as commercial craft to carry passengers," the spokesman said.
"They violate the licensing conditions as well as the law. The passengers' journeys to Central will be seriously interrupted as prosecutions will be initiated when these pleasure vessels are intercepted."
The spokesman said to preserve marine safety is a key objective of the Marine Department.
The department has facilitated ferry operators to put on properly certificated catamarans to ply between Tuen Mun and Central.
The Government Fleet Division of the Marine Department has also provided a pontoon for the berthing of these extra catamarans.
End/Tuesday, September 5, 1995