ENG-1970 — Page 211

164

COMMUNICATIONS

Marine Department for the better detection and combatting of oil pollution within the harbour and Colony waters.

The proximity of Hong Kong to the Portuguese Colony of Macau attracts both tourists and residents to Macau. The facilities of the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal Wharf have been further improved and additional alterations are planned with a view to ensuring greater ease of passenger processing and move- ment through the terminal. The volume of passenger traffic has increased from just over one million in 1962 to 2.89 million passengers in 1970. Services between Macau and Hong Kong are provided by four conventional steamers and twelve hydrofoils.

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At the present time most cargo handled in Hong Kong is at some stage transported by lighters. Over two thousand lighters and junks are now used for this purpose and nearly a thousand of these are mechanised. This mechanised fleet provides a type of transport which has been particularly suited to the handling and delivery of the small parcels of cargo which make up a considerable portion of tonnage handled in the port. Usually ship's gear is used for loading or discharging cargo alongside wharves or in the stream, but heavy lifting gear is available in the port when required. Wharf and godown companies are alive to the advantages and increased efficiency which may result from mechanisation and modern equipment is available to speed the rapid and safe move- ment of goods between godowns, ships and lighters.

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As in other world ports, the impact of changed technology in the shipping industry is being felt in Hong Kong in increasing degree as liner companies serving the Colony develop their capacity to handle containers. Self-sustaining and non-self-sustaining con- tainer ships are already using container handling facilities at berths developed by private interests within the port. During the year development of container handling facilities at the Kowloon Wharves, North Point Wharf and at the Kowloon Docks continued. In April 1970 Government called for tenders for the development of a container terminal at Kwai Chung. When fully developed the container terminal will comprise four berths each with a consid- erable area of land back-up. Each berth will be 1,000 feet long with an alongside depth of 40 feet. In August it was announced that three companies had each been awarded one of the berths at