ENG-1981 — Page 246

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

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A watch on shipping, fairways, typhoon shelters and cargo-working areas is kept 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 in unusual circumstances. A fleet of 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 wharves at oil terminals or from a fleet of floating oilers. Fresh water is obtainable at commercial wharves or from private water boats which service vessels at anchor or on government mooring buoys. A harbour telephone service is available at buoys and wharves.

There are extensive facilities in Hong Kong for repairing, maintaining and dry-docking or slipping all types of vessel up to about 228 metres in length and 26.8 metres beam. Five floating dry-docks are located off Tsing Yi Island, the largest of which is capable of lifting vessels of up to 100 000 tonnes deadweight. Hong Kong has a large number of minor shipyards equipped to undertake repairs to small vessels. These yards also build specialised craft including sophisticated pleasure craft and yachts.

Hong Kong is a prominent centre for the recruiting of seamen. The Seamen's Recruiting Office and the Mercantile Marine Office register and supervise the employment of 18 200 seamen on board 1 200 vessels of all flags. The Hong Kong Merchant Navy Training Board met during 1981 to continue to assess the needs of local seamen. Particular emphasis has been placed on the need for an improvement in the standard of training of Hong Kong seamen, having regard for the International Conference on Training and Certification of Seafarers, 1978, under the auspices of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO). The Mariners' clubs in Kowloon and Kwai Chung continue to provide recreational and welfare facilities of a high standard for visiting seamen of all nationalities. Steps are being taken to improve relations in this field by the setting up of a Port Welfare Board which will enhance the activities of the present Port Welfare Committee.

Civil Aviation

In contrast to general, world-wide trends in 1981 Hong Kong recorded a significant increase in both

passenger and cargo traffic.

A total of 8.2 million passengers passed through Hong Kong International Airport representing an increase of 21 per cent over the preceding year. This was partly due to the considerable increase in traffic between Hong Kong and London following the opening up of the cabotage route to Cathay Pacific Airways and British Caledonian Airways and also the travel boom in China with Civil Aviation Administration of China operating more and more scheduled and chartered services between Hong Kong and cities in China.

The air cargo sector went through a steady year with a total throughput of 290 000 tonnes, an increase of about 12 per cent over the previous year's total of 258 000 tonnes. The value of goods, which amounted to $56,000 million, rose by nearly 27 per cent as compared with the preceding year. Measured against Hong Kong's total trade in terms of value, imports by air accounted by value for nearly 19 per cent, exports for over 26 per cent and re-exports for about 24 per cent. The United States remained the major market for both Hong Kong's exports and imports by air, and accounted for 45.2 per cent and 20 per cent of products respectively.