ENG-1970 — Page 210

COMMUNICATIONS

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radar reflecting devices, and in the harbour itself the lead mooring buoys at the eastern end of the lines of mooring buoys are identified by quick-flashing lights. The Department operates a network of signal stations situated at Waglan Island, Green Island, North Point and at the Marine Department Signal Tower, which are inter-connected by teletype circuits. In addition a modified Hague Plan VHF Port Operations Service is controlled by the Department.

During the year work started on the construction of the cross harbour tunnel between Kellett Island and Hung Hom. This major civil engineering enterprise has entailed certain alterations being made to the Hung Hom fairway leading from Kowloon Bay to the central and western area of the harbour. In consequence of this the Marine Department has recommended that whenever consid- erations of draft allowed it, ships should utilise the western entrance to the harbour rather than the eastern entrance.

Quarantine and immigration facilities are available on a 24-hour basis at the Western quarantine anchorage and from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Eastern quarantine anchorage. This change in times of availability of 24-hour clearance from the Eastern to the Western quarantine anchorage reflects the emphasis now being placed upon the arrival and departure of vessels via the western approaches to the harbour. Ships are normally cleared on arrival and large passenger vessels are processed en route to their alongside berth mooring buoy. Advance immigration clearance may however be obtained by some vessels upon application and this, together with the facilities available for advance medical clearance obtainable by radio, does much to obviate delay to vessels occasioned by the necessity to comply with formalities on arrival.

The harbour is patrolled by Marine Department launches to ensure effective control of fairways, typhoon shelters and cargo working areas. The launches are in continuous contact by radio with the Port Control Office which is thus able to initiate and control action required in an emergency. A fleet of modern fire- fighting vessels operated by the Fire Services Department is kept in continuous readiness and units are stationed on either side of the harbour. These and other government vessels are also equipped with emulsifier sprays for dispersing oil pollution and in the course of the year a new Anti-Pollution Unit was formed by the

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