ENG-1998 — Page 318

TRANSPORT

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Audits for the issuance of the statutory certificates for passenger ships are undertaken by the Marine Department for passenger ships. All three HSC operators in Hong Kong were audited and issued with certificates before the enforcement date. During the year, a total of 33 HSCs were audited by the department and issued with relevant certificates.

Services in the Port

Mainland and Macau Ferry Services

The Marine Department manages the China Ferry Terminal (CFT) and the Macau Ferry Terminal (MFT). They handled 6.2 million and 10.6 million passengers, respectively, in 1998. This represented a decrease of 10.3 per cent and 3.4 per cent compared with 1997. Improvements such as upgrading the Sailing Information Display System, replacing the baggage handling cranes and refurbishing public toilet facilities are being made to the terminals.

Immigration and Quarantine Services

Immigration and quarantine services, including advance clearance, may be applied for by radio through a ship's agent. The service is available 24 hours a day at the Western Quarantine and Immigration Anchorage and from 6 am to 6 pm at the Eastern Quarantine and Immigration Anchorage. The Tuen Mun Immigration Anchorage operates daily from 1 am to 11 am for river trade vessels plying between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta ports.

Mooring Buoys

Mooring buoys in the harbour provide places for transfer of cargo between ships and barges. The Marine Department provides and maintains 61 buoys which can be booked through the Vessel Traffic Centre.

To cope with recent port development, plans are afoot to reorganise the mooring buoys in Kellett Bank and Junk Bay. This project will involve substantial dredging and co-ordination with other port development projects.

Bunkering

Bunkering is readily available at commercial wharves and oil terminals, or from a large fleet of private bunkering barges. Fresh water can also be provided alongside berths, or from a private fleet of water boats.

Ship Repair and Dry-Docking

The port has extensive facilities for repairing, dry-docking and slipping all types of vessels of up to 40 000 dead-weight tonnes, including oil rigs. Local shipyards are able to build and maintain workboats and pleasure vessels. The Marine Department provides a free inspection and advice service to promote safe working practices in ship-repairing, ship-breaking and cargo-handling afloat.

Reception of Marine Wastes

Marine Department is fully aware of the environmental problems and nuisance floating refuse could bring. Its fleet of 67 vessels (six hired sampans and 58 hired vessels) scavenges floating refuse in the harbour and typhoon shelters. It also collects