A ferry from Lantau Island to Central Edmond Tang

Islands district councilors yesterday urged the government to grant a one-off fund to help ease operating costs of outlying islands ferry services.

Islands district councilors from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment & Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) met with Secretary for Transport & Housing Eva Cheng yesterday, the deadline for the retendering of four ferry routes.

Islands district councilor Chau Chuen-heung said a cross-departmental group should be set up to speed up the processing of license applications, she said.

They also proposed to extend the license period from three to 10 years to allow long-term investment, she said.

The government re-tendered four outlying islands ferry services (from Central to Mui Wo, Peng Chau, Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan) in March.

The other two routes from Central to Cheung Chau and Inter-island have been given to the current operator, New World First Ferry Services Limited, with similar service arrangements.

After considering opinions from district councilors and residents of outlying islands, the government made some changes in the re-tendering exercise to reduce operating costs on tenderers.

For example, tenderers can use ordinary vessels instead of fast vessels for some routes.

In addition, the government will waive vessel-related fees on the four routes.

To ease burden on operators, the government will allow them to use the rooftop level of Central ferry piers No 4, 5 and 6 for commercial activities.

The successful tenderers will commence operations of the four routes on July 1.

The current operators will continue to run the ferry services until the end of June.

Nelson Ng Siu-yuen, general manager of Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry Limited said as the retender bid allows more flexible ferry services, lower fares could be possible in future.

(HK Edition 04/15/2008 page1)