ENG-1976 — Page 219

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

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For ships calling at Hong Kong, quarantine and immigration facilities are avail- able on a 24-hour basis at the Western Quarantine Anchorage and from 6.30 am to 6 pm at the Eastern Quarantine Anchorage. Ships are normally cleared inwards on arrival and large passenger vessels are processed en route to their allocated berths. Advance immigration clearance and radio pratique may be obtained by certain vessels on application.

During the year a major realignment of harbour fairways was completed and dredging was undertaken to improve access to the harbour area for deep draught vessels entering via the western approaches. This dredging was undertaken in order to compensate for the effect that the laying of the mass transit railway's immersed tube tunnel across the harbour will have upon marine traffic in the central harbour areas. On January 1, 1976, traffic separation schemes were established in the eastern and western approaches to the port. =

Pilotage in Hong Kong is not compulsory but is considered advisable in view of the density of traffic and the scale of harbour works continuously being undertaken. The pilotage authority in Hong Kong is the Director of Marine.

Navigational aids in the harbour and approaches are constantly being improved to ensure greater safety. All fairway buoys are lighted and many beacons are fitted with radar reflectors. Marine Department signal stations at Waglan Island, Green Island and North Point, and the Port Communications Centre, are all inter-connected by telephone, radio-telephone and teleprinter circuits. The Marine Department operates a continuous vhf radio-telephone port operations service based on Hague Plan frequencies, which gives comprehensive marine communications throughout the harbour and approaches. There is also a continuously monitored disaster network which links the Marine Department's Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre with the Islander aircraft of the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force and with military helicopters, Marine Police launches, Fire Services launches and other similar facilities. In the event of a vessel getting into difficulties in the South China Sea within about 800 miles from Hong Kong, the Marine Department is able to act as a rescue co- ordinating centre. In October the government agreed to a proposal to employ con- sultants to study and make recommendations for improved surveillance in Hong Kong waters.

Surveillance of shipping, fairways, typhoon shelters and cargo working areas is undertaken by Marine Department launch patrols. The launches are in continuous radio contact with the Port Communications Centre, enabling the centre 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.

Good bunkering facilities are provided in the port and vessels may be supplied with fuel oil either from the wharves at the oil terminals or from a fleet of harbour oilers. Fresh water is obtainable at commercial wharves or from water boats which service vessels at anchor or at government mooring buoys. A harbour phone service is available either at buoys or at wharves.