ENG-1968 — Page 258

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COMMUNICATIONS

4,417 tons of refuse were collected by these craft, during 1968 in 289 working days.

Overall port activity as regards ocean shipping and cargo move- ments was generally lower during the first half of 1968 than in the same period of 1967, and higher in the latter half of 1968 as compared to 1967. These figures were influenced by the disturbances during 1967, having begun to be felt in respect of shipping movements just about the middle of the year. The closure of the Suez Canal in June 1967 and subsequent re-scheduling of some liner services to the Far East from Europe also affected the number of shipping move- ments through the port in 1968 but the general trend throughout the year was for a steady increase in the number of vessels using the port, a total of 599 ocean-going vessels entering in December.

Details of vessels entered and cleared during the year, together with figures of cargo loaded and discharged, are in Appendix XXXVIII, which also shows the number of passengers dealt with, including transit emigrants. Regular and frequent services are main- tained by many well-known and old-established shipping lines. Some 20 companies provide regular sailings to Europe, and a similar number to the North American continent. There are regular services to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, South America and other countries in the Far East. Frequent and fast services are maintained to Macau by ferries and hydrofoils.

The completion of Stage I of the development of the Hong Kong and Macau Hydrofoil and Ferry Terminal has greatly improved passenger convenience at the, terminal and has enabled passenger clearance facilities to be centralized with consequent savings in staff of the operating departments. Plans are in hand to effect further improvements to the existing facilities and it is expected that these improvements will be completed by early 1970.

Passenger traffic increased from a total of just over one million in December 1960 to a maximum of 2,600,000 in December 1966. The total number of passengers passing through the terminal 1968 was 2,061,000 an increase of 60,000 over the previous year when move- ment of passengers between Hong Kong and Macau was consider- ably curtailed due to the disturbances in both territories.

The Marine Department maintains 69 moorings for ocean-going freighters. Of these, 42 are classified as suitable for use by vessels