ENG-1967 — Page 251

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COMMUNICATIONS

late in 1966, and its recommendation for a container terminal of 90 acres at Kwai Chung is now under consideration by the govern- ment. Pending a firm decision, the government has agreed to reserve the site at Kwai Chung recommended by the committee.

The year under review saw the completion of two new tanker berths and tank farms on Tsing Yi Island to supplement existing oil wharves, including the terminal completed in 1966 at Nga Ying Chau. The new terminals greatly improve the berthing facilities for tankers and increase the capacity for the storage of oils and chemi- cals. Both installations can accept tankers of up to 35,000 tons deadweight with a minimum depth of about 40 feet alongside their berths.

Officers of the Mercantile Marine Office supervise the engagement and discharge of seamen serving in British ships and also the crews of ships whose countries have no consular representative in Hong Kong. The Seamen's Recruiting Office, which was established in 1966, is responsible for the registration of all seamen engaged in Hong Kong for service in foreign-going vessels. A shipping informa- tion unit, formed within the Marine Department during the year, has been busily engaged in countering the effects of stoppages of work by some seamen and in furnishing information on condi- tions in ports in China and in the Far East to the Hong Kong Government, overseas governments and other interested parties. This unit, together with the Seamen's Recruiting Office, did much to maintain normal conditions during this year's disturbances. A Port Welfare Committee disburses government subventions and other monies to religious and other organizations which minister to the needs of crews of ships visiting Hong Kong. The committee manages the Merchant Navy Club in Kowloon. During the year, $244,256.25 was provided for port welfare purposes.

The Colony's dockyards were kept busy during the year with new construction, repair work and conversions. Seaway Princess, a relatively new type of cargo carrier, known as a trailer ship, was built at Kowloon Docks for a New Zealand company and launched in September. The same dockyard also built a diesel tug, designed for deepsea salvage work, which is one of the most powerful of its kind in the world. A twin-screw, twin-grab dredger launched in