XN000022-1979-08-24 — Page 5

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1979

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SCHEME TO IMPROVE FERRY SERVICE

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ACTIVE CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN TO RE-ALLOCATE THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATE! FERRIES TO SUPPLEMENT THOSE ROUTES WHERE ADDITIONAL TRIPS ARE REQUIRED DURING PEAK HOURS.

THIS WAS REVEALED BY A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF A PILOT SCHEME INTRODUCED EARLY THIS MONTH TO IMPROVE THE FERRY SERVICE,

UNDER THE PILOT SCHEME THE FREQUENCIES OF TWO FERRY ROUTES, ONE BETWEEN NORTH POINT AND HUNG HOM AND THE OTHER NORTH POINT AND KOWLOON CITY WERE EXTENDED FROM 15 MINUTES INTERVALS TO 20 MINUTES.

AS A RESULT, ONE VESSEL WAS WITHDRAWN FROM THE TWO ROUTES AND DEPLOYED ON OTHER ROUTES WHICH HAVE EXPERIENCED INCREASED DEMAND.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID OBSERVATIONS AT NORTH POINT, HUNG HOM AND KOWLOON CITY FERRY PIERS SHOWED THAT THE REVISED SYSTEM OF OPERATION WAS SUCCESSFUL.

+IT HAS CAUSED NO INCONVENIENCE TO PASSENGERS DURING PEAK PERIODS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+FURTHERMORE, THE REVISION OF FREQUENCY HAS HELPED IN ALLEVIATING THE INCREASE IN DEMAND DURING THE PEAK PERIODS ON OTHER FERRY ROUTES.+

THE RELEASED VESSEL WHICH CAN CARRY 628 PASSENGERS MAS BEEN USED TO REPLACE THE 390-SEATER +MAN LUNG+ ON THE CENTRAL TO TSUEN WAN FERRY SERVICE.

+MAN LUNG+ IS NOW OPERATING ONE ADDITIONAL TRIP FROM CHEUNG CHAU, LEAVING AT 7.15 A.M. AND ARRIVING IN CENTRAL IN ABOUT 55 MINUTES. IMMEDIATELY AFTER UNLOADING PASSENGERS, THE +MAN LUNG+ DEPARTS FOR ME! FOO ON ANOTHER RELIEF+ TRIP WHERE IT SAILS OFF AT 8.40 A.M. FOR CENTRAL.

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