ENG-1964 — Page 209

182

COMMUNICATIONS

Committee to ensure that facilities and services keep pace with the changing needs of Hong Kong and of the shipping companies. A comprehensive system of navigational aids covers the harbour and approaches and allows entry to the port by day or by night and in all weathers. The depths in the eastern approaches are 36 feet through Lei Yue Mun and in the west 28 feet through Sulphur Channel or south of Stonecutters Island. Although pilotage is not compulsory, it is recommended owing to the density of traffic and the constant reclamation and harbour works.

Quarantine and immigration formalities are carried out at the eastern or western quarantine anchorages. The inward night clear- ance scheme has been extended this year. Radio pratique may also be granted in certain cases, and this arrangement, apart from reducing the number of movements within the busy part of the harbour, is popular with passengers and consignees for it means that disembarkation and cargo work can begin immediately a ship is berthed.

Signal stations on Waglan Island and other points in the harbour and approaches are continuously manned. All movements are reported to the Port Control Office whose staff is available at all times to deal with emergencies and queries. The signal stations are in communication by radio telephone with Marine and Port Health launches, while Police, Immigration, Fire Services and Commerce and Industry launches have their own individual circuits. Vessels at buoys and wharves may hire radio telephones com- mercially to link up with the public telephone services. A fleet of fire-floats, manned by-the Fire Services Department, includes the Alexander Grantham, which is one of the biggest and most modern fire-floats in the world.

The Marine Department maintains 62 moorings for ocean-going vessels. Of these, 36 are classified as suitable for the use of vessels up to 600 feet in length and 26 for vessels up to 450 feet in length. Under typhoon conditions 30 buoys are available for vessels up to 600 feet and eight for vessels up to 370 feet. As part of continuous port improvement schemes additional navigation aids were brought into operation during the year and the expansion scheme for the western harbour continued. Commercial wharves can accommodate vessels up to 750 feet in length with a draught of up to 32 feet. Construction of the new ocean terminal continued satisfactorily