ENG-1953 — Page 185

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1953

A total of 1,060,580 (969,871) passengers was embarked and disembarked, of whom 49,291 (76,660) passengers were carried by ocean going vessels, 1,011,289 (893,077) by river steamers and none (134) by junks.

Ocean going vessels discharged 3,043,990 (2,979,874) weight tons and loaded 1,372,669 (1,481,900) weight tons of cargo.

River steamers discharged 25,663 (34,841) weight tons and loaded 34,519 (75,870) weight tons of cargo.

Junks and launches discharged 406,568 (510,100) weight tons and loaded 115,610 (123,341) weight tons of cargo.

There was an increase in ocean going vessels and tonnage of cargo over the previous year, but the figures for river steamers, launches and junks continued to drop. The decrease in the latter figures is attributed solely to the restrictions imposed by international tension which curtailed trade with the mainland of China.

Sea communications with North and South America, Europe, Australia, the Philippines, Japan and South Africa operated regularly. During the year German vessels engaged on international routes resumed their regular services to Hong Kong.

In addition to the various signal stations which maintain a 24-hour ship-shore visual signal system for the convenience of shipowners and agents, greater use was made of radio telephones by stevedoring companies. This greatly reduces time in handling tugs and lighters.

Aids to navigation are of the latest type, a new direction- finding system for shipping and aircraft and a new meteor- ological station have now been installed at Waglan Island.

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