Transfer of HYF's ferry licences to NWFF on 15 January 2000

The licensed ferry services for Cheung Chau, Mui Wo, Peng Chau and between North Point and Hung Hom/ Kowloon City currently operated by the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Co. Ltd. (HYF) will be taken over by New World First Ferry Services Ltd. (NWFF) with effect from 1.30 am on January 15, 2000.

A Transport Department (TD) spokesman said: "To maintain normal operation and allow spare vessels for the 8 ferry routes, NWFF will deploy a fleet of 26 vessels to run its services. To ensure a smooth transition, there will not be any change to the service schedules or fare levels of the 8 routes during the initial period of operation."

TD will set up an Operation Co-ordination Centre (OCC) at its Headquarters on 14 and 15 January 2000 as well as on 17 January 2000 to monitor the ferry changeover and the ferry operation on the first weekday after the changeover. A standby team will be on duty in the intervening period. The OCC will be supported by TD's Site Observation Teams at the ferry piers.

There are contingency plans to support smooth operation of ferry services particularly in the initial period of ferry operation. There will be spare vessels to operate supplementary sailings if necessary. NWFF will also deploy more pier staff in the initial period of operation for passenger control and counting purposes.

Tests have also been conducted on the ticketing system to ensure proper functioning. To keep inconvenience to the minimum, mobile Octopus fare collecting machines will be deployed for fare collection should there be a breakdown of the Octopus machine.

"Transport Department will closely monitor the operation of ferry services and will work closely with NWFF," the spokesman said.

"Passengers are reminded that the new ferry operator should be allowed time to settle down and identify passenger needs before considering appropriate changes to the ferry services."

Thursday, January 13, 2000