ENG-1968 — Page 259

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COMMUNICATIONS

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of up to 600 feet in length and 27 for vessels of up to 450 feet. When the Port Buoyage Improvement Scheme has been fully implemented, 73 moorings for ocean-going shipping will be available. Commercial wharves can accommodate ships not exceeding 1,000 feet in length and with draughts of up to 36 feet.

The ocean terminal, opened in 1966, is one of the best-equipped in the world. Its self-contained shopping centre has more than 100 shops on two floors. It also has night clubs, car parks and exhibi- tion areas and visitors and passengers are catered for by banking, travel, telegraphic and typing services. At ground level there are seven-and-a-half acres of wharf and transit shed space. The terminal provides berthing for four ocean-going liners and has 190,000 square feet of apron space on its marine deck for cargo handling. Wharf and godown companies have a total cargo storage capacity, for all types of goods, of more than a million tons. Transhipment cargo facilities and services are also provided. Most cargo handled in Hong Kong is at some stage transported by lighter or junk, and an adequate number of this type of craft is always available for hire.

It became apparent early in 1966 that great impetus was being given to the development of container cargo services throughout the world. A Container Committee was appointed under the chair- manship of the Director of Marine, comprising representatives of manufacturing, exporting and shipping organizations, and of the relevant government departments. It has been discussing the prob- lems and ramifications for Hong Kong of containerization since late in 1966 and has submitted four reports to Government concern- ing the development of facilities to accommodate container vessels in Hong Kong. During the year work was started on an engineering feasibility study of the site at Kwai Chung recommended by the committee for development as a container terminal. Government has also entered into discussion with wharf and godown operations in the Colony to ascertain if some interim development of existing facilities to handle container cargoes on an increasing scale is feasible.

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