ENG-2001 — Page 323

TRANSPORT

New Boundary Crossings Under Detailed Planning

To meet the anticipated growth in cross-boundary traffic, new road and rail crossings. have been planned in co-ordination with the Mainland authorities. These include a fourth road crossing at the Hong Kong/Shenzhen Western Corridor. A second rail passenger crossing at Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang will be provided upon the commissioning of the Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line in 2007.

Cross-boundary Ferries

Cross-boundary ferry services to about 20 Mainland ports and Macau operate from the China Ferry Terminal and the Macau Ferry Terminal. In 2001, the sea passenger throughput for Mainland ports and Macau totalled 6.5 million and 11.4 million, respectively. The China Ferry Terminal has 13 berths and the Macau Ferry Terminal 12 berths.

Marine Facilities

The Civil Engineering Department is responsible for the planning, design and construction of public marine facilities including piers, beacons, breakwaters, seawalls, navigation channels and anchorage areas. In 2001, the department continued the reconstruction of the Tung Lung Chau and Pak Sha Wan Public Piers. It started the reconstruction of the Tai Lam Chung, Hei Ling Chau and Kadoorie Piers. It also started an Environmental Impact Assessment study for a jetty at Lung Kwu Chau. The department continued with planning for the reconstruction of the existing piers at Peng Chau, Cheung Chau, Kat O, Wu Kai Sha, Green Island and Ping Chau; and design for the Tang Lung Chau Dangerous Goods Anchorage and the sheltered boat anchorage at Tai O.

The Civil Engineering Department is also responsible for the maintenance of public marine facilities. It carries out routine inspections and repairs public marine. structures including seawalls, breakwaters, beacons and piers (including ferry piers). It is responsible for maintenance dredging in anchorage areas, typhoon shelters, rivers and navigation channels. In 2001, the department maintained 117 kilometres of seawalls, 298 piers and 18 000 hectares of seabed.

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 service, provision of mooring buoys and rigorous enforcement of major international maritime conventions.

The department liaises closely with shipping and commercial organisations through a number of advisory and consultative committees. Users and operators of port facilities can provide their advice in relation to port administration matters through these channels. The Port Operations Committee advises on the efficient operation of the port and the Pilotage Advisory Committee advises on matters relating to pilotage services. Besides this, the Provisional Local Vessel Advisory Committee is concerned with the local craft matters and the Shipping Consultative Committee advises on the efficient operation of the Hong Kong

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