XN000022-1991-01-15 — Page 5

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1991

VESSELS "THE SAFETY STANDARDS OF SUCH PASSENGER CARRYING LOCAL

VESSELS) IS REGULATED UNDER THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (LAUNCHES AND FERRY

DEGREE OF PASSENGER SAFETY REGULATIONS 1965 WHICH PRESCRIBE A HIGH BASED ON INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.

"THE SAFETY RECORD OF THESE PASSENGER VESSELS IN THE WATERS HONG KONG IS BEYOND QUESTION.

OF

"NEVERTHELESS

PUBLIC

INTEREST

WAS

FURTHER

SERVED

BY VESSEL LAST

THE

INTRODUCTION OF COMPULSORY THIRD PARTY INSURANCE ON SUCH (1990) YEAR AS A CONDITION OF MY LICENSING THEM," HE SAID.

THE

MR SZE SAID THERE WERE HOWEVER TWO AREAS OF PASSENGER SERVICES,

DID NOT FALL WITHIN ONE ANCIENT AND ONE MODERN, WHICH TO DATE CATEGORIES OF LAUNCHES AND FERRY VESSELS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

OF JUNKS CONVEYING "AS FAR BACK AS 1937 RECOGNITION WAS MADE

MARKET VILLAGERS FROM OUTLYING ISLANDS OR REMOTE MAINLAND ENCLAVES TO

PO AND SAI KUNG, HE TOWNS AND ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRES SUCH AS TAI SAID.

INTENDED FOR TRADING

"THESE JUNKS WERE NATIVE DESIGN VESSELS PURPOSES. THEY WERE REFERRED TO AS 'KAITOS' OR STREET FERRIES.

+1

THE PUBLIC DEMAND FOR A FAR

MODERN PHENOMENON IS MORE

BEACHES TRANSPORT TO THE SCENIC OUTER ISLANDS AND REMOTE COUNTRY PARK

GREATLY ACCORDING TO PUBLIC AND THE DEMAND IN THIS AREA FLUCTUATES HOLIDAYS AND SEASONAL FACTORS.

"SUCH SERVICES ARE OFFERING THEMSELVES FOR HIRE."

BY PROVIDED

'KAITOS' OR

PLEASURE

JUNKS

MR

TO IMPRACTICAL IT SZE SAID OBVIOUSLY

MERCHANT SHIPPING (LAUNCHES STRINGENT AND EXACTING STANDARDS OF THE

FERRIES, AND AND FERRY VESSELS) REGULATIONS TO THESE INFORMAL STREET

TO UNDERGO THE STRINGENT SAFETY PLEASURE JUNKS WERE NOT REQUIRED INSPECTIONS REQUIRED OF FERRIES AND LAUNCHES.

WAS

APPLY

THE

OF 4.434

KUNG

"TODAY THERE ARE 121 KAITOS WITH A CARRYING CAPACITY

OPERATE OF 3,012)

IN THE SAI CAPACITY OF WHICH 89 (WITH A DISTRICT.

OF

TOWNS AND TRANSPORT "IT IS HOPED THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES COUPLED WITH THE ABANDONMENT

IN THE NEED MANY REMOTE VILLAGES AND ISLANDS WILL LEAD TO A DECLINE FOR KAITOS,' HE SAID.

M

THE

AND OTHER MR SZE SAID THE CHALLENGE FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT

TERRITORIES DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED, FOR EXAMPLE TRANSPORT, CITY AND NEW

WAS HOW TO CONTINUE TO SATISFY ADMINISTRATION AND MARINE POLICE,

OF DEMAND

SUCH VILLAGERS AND HOLIDAY-MAKERS LEGITIMATE TRANSPORT

THE SAFETY OF THE TRAVELLING WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ENSURING THAT PUBLIC WAS NOT COMPROMISED.

HE SAID A NUMBER OF MEASURES HAD BEEN CRAFT REVIEW AND WERE UNDER CONSIDERATION.

PROPOSED BY THE LOCAL

/THESE ARE