ENG-1984 — Page 267

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TRANSPORT

About 1.6 million passengers passed through the temporary Tai Kok Tsui-China Ferry Terminal. Hoverferries, jetcats, catamarans and conventional ferries operate between Hong Kong and various Chinese ports.

The government is considering the construction of a permanent Hong Kong-China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui on the site of the existing Kowloon Public Pier Number 54. It is planned that both ocean-going passenger vessels and smaller high-speed vessels will be able to berth there.

The New Sha Tin-Meisha Ferry Terminal came into operation in August. This serves ferries plying between Sha Tin in the New Territories and the Dai Meisha and Xiao Meisha holiday resorts situated in China at the northern head of Mirs Bay. The service is at present operated by the Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited.

Within the port of Hong Kong, 72 mooring buoys for ocean-going vessels are provided and maintained by the Marine Department. Of these, 43 are suitable for vessels up to 183 metres in length and the remainder for ships up to 135 metres. The moorings include 58 special typhoon buoys which are located so that ships can remain secured to them during tropical storms. This obviates unnecessary ship movements and helps to maintain efficiency and reduce operational costs. Dangerous goods anchorages are available if required, and safe anchorages are available for deep-draught vessels.

For ships calling at Hong Kong, immigration facilities are available on a 24-hour basis at the Western Quarantine Anchorage and from 6.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Eastern Quarantine Anchorage. Quarantine facilities are available continuously at the Western Quarantine Anchorage and between 6.30 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily at the Eastern Quarantine Anchorage. Between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. quarantine service is available at the Eastern Quarantine Anchorage only on request through the Port Communications Centre. Vessels may, on application, obtain advance clearance, advance immigration processing and advance free pratique by radio.

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While continuing to provide the infrastructure for ship-owners and management activi- ties expected of a major shipping centre, Hong Kong also experienced unprecedented growth in its registered fleet during the year. The registered tonnage increased from five million to 6.5 million tonnes at a time when the world generally was facing a severe shipping recession.

The Marine Safety Division of the Marine Department is responsible for the survey and certification of these vessels and provides a plan approval service. Surveyors of the division travel world-wide to undertake statutory surveys of vessels intended for British registry in Hong Kong. Locally, surveyors are made available to any British or foreign ships for the issue of certificates under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1974 and other international maritime conventions. With some exceptions, vessels plying within the waters of Hong Kong need to be licensed under the Shipping and Port Control Ordinance. These, too, are inspected and issued with appropriate certificates. The 1981 amendments to SOLAS 1974 came into force internationally on September 1, 1984. The amendments improve several safety aspects of the convention, which is generally regarded as the most important of all international treaties relating to maritime safety. As a result, Hong Kong registered ships built after that date have to comply with new SOLAS requirements, thus ensuring that Hong Kong registered ships maintain the highest level of safety.

A convention of particular significance which came into force internationally on Octo- ber 2, 1983, is the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) 1973 as modified by its 1978 protocol. Hong Kong registered vessels comply