ENG-1970 — Page 212

COMMUNICATIONS

165

the Kwai Chung terminal. Reclamation of the seabed site, the construction and the development of the terminals will be the responsibility of the companies who have been awarded the berths whilst the Government will dredge a large approach area to a depth of forty feet. At the end of the year the final preparations for commencement of construction work at the Kwai Chung container terminal and arrangements to let a dredging contract were well in hand. It is anticipated that the three berths awarded will be completed and capable of accepting container ships in the summer of 1972.

=

Very good bunkering facilities are provided in the port and vessels may be supplied with fuel oil either at the wharves of oil terminals or from a fleet of harbour oilers owned and operated by the major oil companies. Fresh water is similarly available at commercial wharves or from waterboats which service vessels at anchor or at mooring buoys.

Hong Kong has a long history of ship building and its ship repair facilities are justly admired. Whilst the Colony's major shipyards are able to build dry cargo vessels, tankers, and general purpose passenger and cargo vessels of about 500 feet in length to suit any trade the emphasis of their work is now increasingly directed towards ship repair and major modifications.

-

Two main shipyards are the Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Co Ltd and the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Co Ltd. Both companies have extensive facilities for the repair, maintenance and dry docking or slipping of all class and types of vessels up to 35,500 deadweight tons in the case of bulk oil tankers, or 750 feet in length and 88 feet beam in the case of passenger liners and dry cargo vessels. The Colony's smaller yards are well equipped to undertake repairs to small vessels and have developed a capacity for the building of very specialised craft, particularly pleasure craft and yachts.

Hong Kong continues to play an important role as a centre of recruitment for seamen and over 28,000 Hong Kong registered seamen are serving on board some 1,400 British and foreign vessels. The Seamen's Recruiting Office and the Mercantile Marine Office combine to register and supervise the employment of seamen on