XN000022-1992-05-28 — Page 5

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1992

TWO FERRY ROUTES TO BE WITHDRAWN

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THE TWO FERRY SERVICES FROM SHAM SHUI PO AND TAI KOK CENTRAL WILL CEASE OPERATION NEXT MONTH.

TSUI

то

PASSENGERS AFFECTED MAY USE EXISTING CROSS-HARBOUR BUS ROUTES OPERATING ALONG LAI CHI KOK ROAD.

FROM MORE, A NEW CROSS-HARBOUR BUS ROUTE OPERATING PO TO CENTRAL VIA TAI KOK TSUI WILL BE INTRODUCED BY THE END MONTH.

SHAM SHUI OF THIS

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE HONGKONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY PROPOSED TO WITHDRAW

THE TWO SERVICES AS AND WHEN THE EXISTING PIERS AT WEST KOWLOON WERE AFFECTED RECLAMATIONS IN MID-1992.

BY

"THE PIER IN CENTRAL FOR THE TWO SERVICES WILL ALSO BE REMOVED IN 1994 OWING TO THE CENTRAL AND WANCHAI RECLAMATION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

IN

"IF THE TWO FERRY SERVICES ARE RETAINED, AT LEAST ONE REPLACEMENT PIER WOULD BE REQUIRED AT THE WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION 1992 AND ANOTHER AT CENTRAL IN 1994.

"ONE REPLACEMENT PIER IS ESTIMATED TO COST $80 MILLION IN PRICES, HE SAID.

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THE

1991

NEWLY THE EXISTING

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE PIERS, IF RELOCATED TO RECLAIMED WATERFRONT, WOULD BE SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM PASSENGER CATCHMENT AND HENCE MUCH LESS ACCESSIBLE.

"ACCESSIBILITY WILL BE FURTHER AFFECTED IN 1993 ROAD WORKS AND TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE THIS WOULD LEAD TO FURTHER DEPLETION IN FERRY PATRONAGE THE LOSSES INCURRED.

AND 1994 BY

RECLAMATION. AND INCREASE

"PROSPECTS FOR RECOVERY IN THE LONGER TERM ARE LIMITED. WHEN THE NEW THE PLANNED WESTERN HARBOUR CROSSING (WHC) OPENS IN 1996/97,

USING THE WHC AIRPORT RAILWAY AS WELL AS CROSS-HARBOUR BUS SERVICES WOULD DIRECTLY DUPLICATE THE TWO FERRY SERVICES.'

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THE SPOKESMAN SAID WITHDRAWAL OF THE FERRY SERVICES COULD BE DEFERRED BEYOND JUNE THIS YEAR AS THE EXPANDING DREDGING WORKS

AFFECT THE UNDER WAY IN FRONT OF THE SHAM SHUI PO PIER MIGHT BY THEN SAFE OPERATION OF THE SERVICES.

NOT

NOW

ADEQUACY OF

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL CLOSELY MONITOR THE ALTERNATIVE BUS SERVICES AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS WHEN NECESSARY.

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