TNAG-0742-FCO40-946-Relations-between-China-and-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 98

C.5. *4

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XCR(75)139

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Various proposals for construction of the Macau Terminal by Private Enterprise

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Early in 1974, the Director of Marine received from the Shun Tak Enterprises Corporation Limited & proposal to rebuild the existing terminal in exchange for the right to construct a commerciai building on it. Since then two other proposals for developing new terminals for the Macau ferry and hydrofoil services have been made to Governinent. The first was a proposal by the New World Develop- ment Company Limited to build terminal facilities and operate its own hydrofoil service at Holt'e Wharf. On the advice of the Director of Marine this proposal was rejected because of the congestion which such a service would cause in this critical part of the harbour. The other proposal was made by the Hong Kong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company Limited to build a terminal at the northern end of its own land including Kowloon Public Par No 54 at Canton Road. The

• company's application was conditional on the terminal being the exclusive Hong Kong/Macau terminal and this condition was considered unaccept- able. Nevertheless in considering the application by Shun Tak Emer- prises Corporation Limited, and bearing in mind the future availability of the short-term tenancy areas to be surrendered by the Wharf and Godown Company as part of the terms for the grant of Kwai Chung Container Terminal No 5, and the expiry in December 1979 of the pier lease KPP No 54, it was necessary to examine the question of whether terminal facities should be provided on the Kowloon side either instead of or in addition to a terminal on the Hong Kong side.

Kowloon Side Terminal

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From the Marine point of view it is desirable that the Macau terminal should be sited as far west as possible to avoid conflict with other marine traffic in the harbour. The Director of Marine has been able to permit hydrofoils to proceed foll-borne from the existing terminal. However, because of the mumber of north-south ferry services including hovermarine craft, it would be necessary to require hydro- folls departing from or arriving at Canton Road to travel hull-borne between Canton Road and a point opposite the existing terminal. As this would add up to fifteen minutes to each journey, the two operating companies were consulted, The Shun Tak Shipping Company Limited stated that this restriction would make it uneconomical to run hydro- foils from Kowloon. The Hong Kong and Macau Hydrofoil Company however stated that it would still be prepared to run hydrofoils from Canton Road if facilities were available in addition to the facilities at the Macau Wharf, but would not wish a Kowloon terminal to be suhati- tuted for the existing terminal. Both companies, however, considered that the Kowloon need might be met by a fast ferry service from Kowloon connecting directly with the terminal.

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