ENG-1972 — Page 183

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COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

A comprehensive system of navigational aids in the harbour and approaches provides safe entry to the port by day and night and improvements are continually being made. Most fairway light buoys and certain 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 Department 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. Although 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 undertaken. Following the completion and opening of the cross-harbour tunnel, the Hung Hom fairway that joins Kowloon Bay with the central and western areas of the port, resumed its original alignment on October 2, 1972.

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 Department, 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. As described in Chapter 18, the Pollution Control Unit of the department is respon- sible 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 and this year extended its operations to three of the larger typhoon shelters. A refuse collection service for ships has been introduced on a six-month's trial basis.

At present, a large percentage of the cargo handled in Hong Kong is at some stage transported by lighters. Over 2,000 lighters and junks are now used for this purpose and nearly half of these are mechanised. Ships' own cargo gear is normally used for loading or discharging cargo alongside wharves or in the stream, but floating heavy-lifting equipment is available in the port when required. Wharf and godown companies are fully aware of the advantages and increased productively which can result from mechanisation, and adequate modern equipment is available to speed the rapid and safe movement of goods between godowns, ships and lighters.

The development of container handling facilities within the port continued during the year. The interim facilities available at North Point Wharves Ltd, the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co Ltd and the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company continued to be utilised throughout the year. The first berth of the container complex at Kwai Chung was used for the first time on September 5, 1972 when the container ship Tokyo Bay moored alongside. This marked the beginning of a new era of cargo transportation for Hong Kong. Berth 1, owned and operated by Modern Terminals Limited, represents an investment of $155 million. It has an area of about 37 acres and is the first of three berths being phased into service. With container ships and other vessels of deep draught and higher speeds likely to make greater use of the East Lamma Channel and western approaches in future, the Marine