Central - Tuen Mun ferry service to cease operation on July 17

The Transport Department announces that the ferry service between Central and Tuen Mun and the recreational service between Central and Tai O via Tuen Mun and Sha Lo Wan will cease operation from July 17.

A Transport Department spokesman said that continuous improvement on Tuen Mun Road and the opening of Route 3 and Ting Kau Bridge in the past two years had led to over 75 per cent drop in the average daily patronage for the ferry service between Central and Tuen Mun from 4,500 per day in June 1998 to 1,100 in June 2000, and the patronage was still dropping currently.

The spokesman said, "A tender exercise for ferry service between Central and Tuen Mun and the ferry service among Tuen Mun, Sha Lo Wan and Tai O was conducted in April this year after the ferry operator Shun Tak Ferries Ltd applied for the cancellation of both ferry services because of heavy loss."

"No bid was received for the Central route while the applicant for the Tai O route was found unsuitable. However, the department is still working closely with parties concerned to explore the possibility of a new operator for the recreational service between Tuen Mun and Tai O via Sha Lo Wan," he added.

Upon the cancellation of the services, passengers travelling between Tuen Mun and Central may take the replacement bus services Route 962A (Tuen Mun - Admiralty) which will be operating during the morning peak and Route 962P (Tuen Mun - Wan Chai) which will be operating during the evening peak.

Passengers may also take cross harbour routes 960 (Tuen Mun - Wan Chai Ferry Pier), 961 (Tuen Mun - Wan Chai Convention and Exhibition Centre) and 962 (Tuen Mun - Causeway Bay) or feeder buses to Tsuen Wan and Kwai Fong MTR Stations.

Tourists who intend to go to Sha Lo Wan and Tai O during weekends may make use of ferry, bus or rail service to reach Tung Chung new town and get on a Sha Lo Wan bound ferry at Tung Chung ferry pier, or take a bus at MTR Tung Chung Station bus terminus for Tai O.

"Notice about the cancellation of the ferry service will be put up at the ferry piers and on ferries concerned and the department will closely monitor the situation and strengthen parallel public transport services if necessary," said the spokesman.

End/Monday, July 3, 2000

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