XN000022-1972-09-05 — Page 3

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Tuesday, September 5, 1972

KWAI CHUNG CONTAINER COMPLEX OPENS

The first berth of Hong Kong's $500 million container complex at Kwai

Chung was used for the first time today when the giant Tokyo Bay moored alongside.

The docking of the 59,000 ton container ship came just two years

after initial construction work began on the 125 acre site, which is still being

developed mainly on reclaimed land.

The number one berth, which came into operation today, is owned and

operated by Modern Terminals Limited. It has an area of about 32 acres and is

the first of three being phased into service during the next 12 months.

The three berths will have a total sea frontage of some 4,000 feet.

When the tenders for the three berths were awarded in 1970, a Government

spokesman said "they will go a long way towards ensuring that Hong Kong will be

able to maintain its position as a leading port in the era of containers which

is now developing".

To enable the large container ships to reach the berths at Kwai Chung,

the Government has dredged more than three million cubic yards of seabed material

from the Rambler Channel.

datum

The approach channel was dredged to a depth of 40 feet below chart

the minimum depth required for large container ships.

One-and-a-half miles of roads and a flyover are being built to provide

easy access to the container terminal. The Kowloon Foothills Road Corridor, due

for completion in 1975, will greatly improve traffic flow between Kwai Chung and

industrial towns in Kowloon.

Two other container lots at Kwai Chung are being held in reserve by the

Government and can be made available for future development when a clear need

develops.

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