XN000022-1974-04-29 — Page 4

MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1974

1974

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MEI FOO-CENTRAL WATER TAXI SERVICE STARTS WEDNESDAY

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THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUTER-TYPE FERRY SERVICES IN HONG KONG WILL ADVANCE ANOTHER STAGE ON WEDNESDAY (MAY 1) WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF A SERVICE BETWEEN THE MASSIVE MEI FOO SUN CHUEN HOUSING SCHEME AND CENTRAL DISTRICT.

THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY WILL USE ITS RECENTLY DEVELOPED 67-SEATER WATER TAXIS ON THE RUN AND THESE WILL BE AUGMENTED, IF NECSSARY, BY A TRIPLE DECK FERRY AT THE MORNING PEAK PERIOD AND WATER BUSES IN THE AFTERNOON.

THE FARES ON THE WATER TAXIS WILL BE $1 AND FOR THE TRIPLE DECKER IT WILL BE $1 ON THE TOP DECK AND 50 CENTS ON THE LOWER DECKS AND ON THE WATER BUS.

POKÉSMA

A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF THE FERRY SERVICE WILL FURTHER IMPROVE THZ PUBLIC TRANSPORT FACILITIES FROM THIS FAST DEVELOPING AREA IN NORTH WEST KOWLOON.

J

THE WATER TAXIS WILL COVER THE 3.5 NAUTICAL MILES IN JUST 16 MINUTES. DURING PEAK HOURS THE VESSELS WILL OPERATE ON A 10-MINUTE FREQUENCY AND OFF-PEAK WILL BE EVERY 15 MINUTES.

ON WEEKDAYS THE FIRST WATER TAXI WILL LEAVE MEI FOO AT 7.15 A.M. AND THE LAST ONE AT 7.20 P.M. FROM CENTRAL THE FIRST VESSEL WILL BE AT 7.35 A.M. AND THE LAST ONE AT 7.20 P.M. THE SAME TIMETABLE WILL OPERATE ON SATURDAYS EXCEPT THAT THE LAST SERVICE WILL LEAVE HEI FOO AT 2 P.M. AND CENTRAL AT 1.52 P.M.

THE NEW SERVICE WILL BE OFFICIALLY INAUGURATED ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON WITH THE FIRST WATER TAXI LEAVING MEI FOO AT 2.45 P.M. THE FULL TIMETABLE WILL NOT BEGIN OPERATING UNTIL THURSDAY MORNING.

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