The Government proposes to make changes in laws to establish a new cross-boundary ferry terminal at the Tuen Mun Ferry Pier that would start operating in December 2004.

Hong Kong North West Express Limited signed a tenancy agreement with the Government in December 2003 that allows the company to occupy, modify and use part of the existing Tuen Mun Ferry Pier to operate cross-boundary passenger ferry services. 

North West plans to complete the necessary pier modification works and start providing ferry services to Macau by December 2004.

It also plans to provide ferry services to Mainland ports in the Pearl River Delta Region six months after the terminal has begun operation.

The Tuen Mun Ferry Pier is now used for operating domestic passenger ferry services to and from Tung Chung and Tai O. It has three spare berths for operating other ferry services.

Laws to be changed to make future amendments simpler

To ensure vessel and passenger safety, and effective cross-boundary control, the terminal's boundaries and restricted area must be set out under the Shipping & Port Control (Ferry Terminals) Regulations before it becomes operational, the Environment, Transport & Works Bureau said.

To this end, the Government proposes to make the Shipping & Port Control (Ferry Terminals) (Amendment) Regulation 2004, Boundaries of Ferry Terminals (Repeal) Order and Boundaries of Restricted Areas of Ferry Terminals (Repeal) Notice.

Together, the three pieces of subsidiary legislation will simplify the present legal framework within which the boundaries of cross-boundary ferry terminals and their restricted areas are set out, it added. 

The provisions relevant to the boundaries of two existing cross-boundary ferry terminals - China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui and Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan - and their restricted areas, are contained in five pieces of subsidiary legislation under the Shipping &  Port Control Ordinance. 

Amendments to be tabled in LegCo on April 28

The new subsidiary legislation will allow the boundaries of the new Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal and its restricted area, as well as the boundaries of the two existing ferry terminals and their restricted areas, to all be set out in a new schedule. 

Future declarations of boundaries of new ferry terminals and their restricted areas as well as changes to the boundaries of existing ferry terminals and restricted areas can be effected by amending the schedule.

The Shipping & Port Control (Ferry Terminals) (Amendment) Regulation 2004, Boundaries of Ferry Terminals (Repeal) Order and Boundaries of Restricted Areas of Ferry Terminals (Repeal) Notice are gazetted today and will be tabled at the Legislative Council on April 28, 2004.