1997 — Page 24

主席報告

Chairman's Statement

展望

在本財政年度完結之後,來往北角至九龍城之汽車

渡輪航線及中環至佐敦之客運渡輪航線分別於一九

九八年一月及二月停辦,而即將啟用之機場及東涌

鐵路及全面接駁北大嶼山之巴士網絡,將進一步削

減來往中環至梅窩之乘客數量。與此同時,機場管

理局租用船隻之收益,將會因新機場之竣工而逐漸

減少。面對此等轉變,小輪公司將繼續精簡運作及

縮少營運規模,並將停辦不合乎經濟效益及有其他 交通工具可替代之航線。本集團旨在提供大眾一安

全及舒適之交通工具,但倘沒有建議中之中環碼頭

發展計劃之收益作彌補,業務將難繼續維持,倘若

經過與政府漫長商議之中環碼頭發展建議未能完滿

解決,則本集團將須要考慮是否申請延續於一九九

九年三月三十一日屆滿之現有專營權。此外,近期

區內之金融風暴及本地經濟放緩,皆使旅遊及酒店

業之生意轉為疲弱,而租金收入因工業大廈預期之

改建而減少,一九九八年將會是本集團較為困難之

一年。

致謝

本人謹代表股東及董事會仝人,向為本公司辛勤服

務之全體員工,表示衷心感謝。

PROSPECTS

HKF

After the end of the period under review, North Point-Kowloon City vehicular and Central-Jordan Road passenger ferry services have been suspended in January and February 1998

respectively. The forthcoming opening of the Airport and Tung

Chung railway lines together with full scale bus network to

North Lantau would further cut into the Central-Mui Wo

patronage. Charter hire income from Airport Authority will

gradually decrease as the new airport approaches completion.

To cope with these changes, the ferry company will continue to

stream-line and downsize its operations by suspending those

ferry routes which are economically not viable and are

replaceable by other transport means. While the Group is keen

on providing the commuters with a safe and comfortable

means of transport, the business could not continue without

the revenues expected to be generated from the proposed

Central Piers Development. If the proposed development could not come to a fruitful conclusion after prolonged negotiation

with the Government, the Group would have to consider

whether to renew the existing franchise upon its expiry on 31

March 1999. In addition, the recent currency turmoil in the

region and the downturn in both the local stock and property

markets render the outlook of the travel and hotel businesses

rather gloomy. It is therefore anticipated that 1998 will be a

difficult year for the Group.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

On behalf of the shareholders and the Board, I would like to

take this opportunity to express my thanks and appreciation to

all our staff for their dedication and hard work during the past

year.

主席

林高演

香港,一九九八年三月十三日

Colin K. Y. Lam

Chairman

Hong Kong, 13 March 1998

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