ENG-1997 — Page 314

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TRANSPORT

Non-franchised bus operators also serve the needs of factory employees, tourists and students on a group-hire basis. At the end of the year, the licensed fleet of non- franchised buses totalled 6 053 vehicles.

Marine Facilities

The Civil Engineering Department is responsible for planning, design, and construction of public marine facilities including piers, beacons, breakwaters, seawalls, navigation channels and anchorage areas. In 1997, the Civil Engineering Department completed the Sok Kwu Wan pier and Gemini Point pier. It continued with the construction of the Hei Ling Chau typhoon shelter and three public piers in the Sai Kung area, all of which are due to be completed in 1998. It commenced construction of a light beacon at Sha Lo Wan, public piers at Sai Kung and Sam Ka Tsuen, modification to the northern breakwater of China Ferry Terminal and the planning for construction of a sheltered boat anchorage at Tai O. It also planned the reconstruction of five existing piers at Castle Peak, Hei Ling Chau, Pak Shan Wan, Tai Lam Chung and Tung Lung Chau. It completed a preliminary environmental assessment for construction of the Peng Chau typhoon shelter and in early 1998 will complete another such assessment for the Siu Lam typhoon shelter.

The Civil Engineering Department is also responsible for maintaining public marine facilities. It inspects and repairs public marine structures including breakwaters, beacons, piers and seawalls. It also oversees maintenance dredging of navigation channels and anchorage areas.

The Port

The port handles about 90 per cent, by weight, of Hong Kong's trade. In 1997, it remained the world's busiest container port, handling some 14.5 million TEUS (20-foot equivalent units). It also remained one of the busiest in terms of vessel arrivals and departures, as well as cargo and passenger throughput.

About 233 200 sea-going and river-trade vessels arrived in Hong Kong during the year. These vessels handled more than 169 million tonnes of cargo and around 18 million passengers, most of whom were carried on the world's largest fleet of high- speed ferries.

Container handling, vessel arrivals and departures, and cargo saw growth rates in 1997 of 8 per cent, 6.4 per cent and 7.6 per cent, respectively, compared with 1996. Details of international movements of vessels, passengers and cargo are given at Appendix 43.

Port Administration

The Marine Department administers the port. Its principal function is to ensure safety of navigation and efficiency of shipping activities in Hong Kong waters. This is achieved by comprehensive traffic management, harbour patrol, vessel traffic services, provision of mooring buoys and rigorous enforcement of major international maritime conventions.

Advice from users and operators of port facilities is an important element in port administration. The department maintains close liaison with shipping and commercial organisations through a number of advisory committees. These include the Shipping Consultative Committee, which advises on the efficient operation of the