ENG-1998 — Page 314

TRANSPORT

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24 ports in China were operated from the terminal. In 1998, the terminal handled 54 million Mainland-bound passengers and 800 000 Macau-bound passengers.

The Macau Ferry Terminal, which commenced operation in 1985, has 13 berths and 66 immigration counters. At the end of 1998, ferry services to Macau and four ports in China were operated. In 1998, the terminal handled 900 000 Mainland-bound passengers and 9.7 million bound for Macau.

Marine Facilities

The Civil Engineering Department plans, designs, and constructs public marine facilities including piers, beacons, breakwaters, seawalls, navigation channels and anchorage areas.

In 1998, it completed three public piers in the Sai Kung area, one light beacon at Sha Lo Wan and two dolphins at Shau Kei Wan. It continued with the construction of the Hei Ling Chau typhoon shelter and began building jetties and dolphins at the Government dockyard on Stonecutters Island. It continued with the planning of the modification to the northern breakwater of the China Ferry Terminal, and the reconstruction of the existing public piers at Pak Sha Wan, Tung Lung Chau, Hei Ling Chau, Tai Lam Chung and Castle Peak.

Preliminary project feasibility studies for the Peng Chau and Siu Lam typhoon shelters and the reconstruction of the public pier at Pak Sha Wan were completed. It also began planning for the construction of sheltered boat anchorage areas at Tai O and Tang Lung Chau, and the reconstruction of the existing public piers at Peng Chau, Cheung Chau, Kat O Chau and Wu Kai Sha.

The Civil Engineering Department is also responsible for maintaining public marine facilities. It undertakes maintenance dredging of river and navigation channels, and anchorage areas. In 1998, it was responsible for the maintenance of 105 km of seawalls and 290 piers. About 3 million cubic metres of material were dredged from the seabed, mainly for the maintenance of the Northern Fairway, the approach channel to the Kwai Chung container terminals, the Yau Ma Tei anchorage area and the Kellett Bank mooring area, as well as from the Shing Mun River.

The Port

The port handles about 90 per cent of Hong Kong's trade, by weight. In 1998, it remained one of the world's busiest container port, handling some 14.7 million TEUS (20-foot equivalent units). It also remained one of the busiest ports in terms of vessel arrivals and departures, and cargo and passenger throughput.

About 236 000 sea-going and river-trade vessels arrived in Hong Kong during the year. These vessels handled more than 168 million tonnes of cargo and around 16.8 million passengers. Most of these passengers were carried on the world's largest fleet of high-speed ferries including jet-foils and jet catamarans. 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 the waters of Hong Kong. This is achieved by comprehensive traffic management, harbour patrol, vessel traffic