ENG-1973 — Page 199

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

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the port. Ships are normally cleared on arrival and large passenger vessels are pro- cessed en route to their allocated berths. Advance immigration clearance and radio pratique may be obtained by certain vessels on application.

Navigational aids in the harbour and approaches are constantly improved, help- ing to provide safe access to and from the port. Most fairway buoys are lighted and many

beacons are fitted with radar reflectors. A network of signal stations at Waglan Island, Green Island, North Point and the Marine Department Port Communications Centre are all inter-connected by telephone, radio-telephone and teleprinter circuits. A modified Hague plan VHF (radio-telephone) port operations service is also operated by the department to ensure comprehensive marine communication throughout the harbour and its approaches. Although pilotage in the waters of Hong Kong is not compulsory, it is considered advisable in view of the density of marine traffic and the scale of harbour works continuously being undertaken. -

Surveillance of fairways, typhoon shelters and cargo working areas is effectively undertaken by Marine Department launch patrols. The patrol launches are in con- tinuous radio contact with the port control office which is able to initiate and co- ordinate any action required by unusual circumstances. A fleet of modern fire-fighting vessels, operated by the Fire Services Department, is kept in a state of readiness and units are stationed on both sides of the harbour. These and other government vessels are equipped with harbour pollution control equipment. The pollution control unit of the department is responsible for the detection and control of oil pollution within the waters of Hong Kong. The harbour cleansing unit removes floating refuse from the main harbour and typhoon shelters. A refuse collection service for ocean-going ships, introduced last year, is being fully utilised.

Currently, a large percentage of cargo handled in Hong Kong is at some stage transported by lighters. More than 2,000 lighters and junks are now used for this purpose and nearly half of these are mechanised. Shipboard cargo gear is normally used for loading and discharging cargo alongside wharves or in the stream, but floating heavy-lift cranes are available when required. Wharf and godown companies are fully aware of the advantages and increased productivity which results from mechanisation, and modern equipment is being increasingly used to facilitate rapid turnround of ships.

Three berths at Kwai Chung Container Terminal are now operational and cater for third generation container ships up to 60,000 gross tons calling at the port on scheduled services. The existing berths collectively occupy 125 acres of reclaimed land and have complete back-up services which include marshalling yards, cranes, ancillary equipment and large container freight stations. Berth Nos 1, 2 and 3 are operated respectively by Modern Terminals, Kowloon Container Warehouse Company, and Sea-Land Orient. The approach channel to Kwai Chung has recently been dredged to give a depth of 40 feet at chart datum, and the width of the channel has been in- creased to 1,100 feet. Interim container berths within Victoria Harbour are located at Tsim Sha Tsui, North Point and Hung Hom-these are operated respectively by the Hong Kong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company, North Point Wharves, and Whampoa Terminals.

Good bunkering facilities are provided in the port and vessels may be supplied with fuel oil from either the wharves at the oil terminals or from a fleet of harbour