ENG-1971 — Page 223

COMMUNICATIONS

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and improvements are continually being made. Certain fairway light buoys and navigational beacons are fitted with radar reflecting devices. The department operates a network of signal stations at Waglan Island, Green Island, North Point and at the Marine Depart- ment Port Communications Centre, which are all inter-connected by telephone and teleprinter circuits. A modified Hague Plan VHF Port Operations Service is also operated by the department. Al- though pilotage in the port and in Hong Kong waters is not com- pulsory, it is generally recommended because of the density of marine traffic and the scale of harbour works continuously being under- taken. During the year, work continued on the construction of the cross harbour tunnel between Kellett Island and Hung Hom. This major civil engineering enterprise entailed certain alterations being made to the Hung Hom fairway joining Kowloon Bay with the cen- tral and western areas of the port. As a result, the Marine Depart- ment recommended that whenever the draught of a vessel allowed, it should use the western entrance to the harbour rather than the

eastern one.

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 availa- bility of the 24-hour clearance from the Eastern to the Western an- chorages 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 or mooring buoy. Advance immigration clearance may be obtained by certain vessels on applica- tion.

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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 any unusual circumstances. A fleet of modern fire fighting vessels, operated by the Fire Services Depart- ment, is kept in continuous readiness and units are stationed on either side of the harbour. These and other government vessels are equipped with emulsifier sprays for dispersing oil pollution. The Pollution Control Unit of the department is responsible for the detection and combating of oil pollution within the waters of Hong Kong. The Harbour Cleansing Unit removes some 6,000 tons of floating refuse from the main harbour each year.