Shops at piers set to boost ailing ferry companies
Plan to add three floors to Central piers 4 to 6 seen as way to provide additional income for boat operators struggling with fewer riders
The government plans to spend almost HK$610 million adding space for shops to three Central ferry piers as a form of cross-subsidy to help boat operators stay afloat in the long term.
Lawmakers heard yesterday that the work to raise the height of piers 4 to 6 by three floors was expected to be completed in phases from 2015 to 2018.
A funding request will be submitted for approval on July 5.
The three piers now serve Lamma Island, Peng Chau, Mui Wo and Cheung Chau on routes operated by Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry and New World First Ferry. During construction, the services will use unoccupied berths at piers 2 and 8.
"Given the low patronage and high operation costs of the ferry [services], the project is a longer-term assistance measure to further improve their financial viability on a sustained basis," the Transport and Housing Bureau wrote in a paper submitted to legislators yesterday.
"The additional floors on the piers, which will be used for commercial activities, will provide an additional source of non-fare revenue which will be used to cross-subsidise the operation of these ferry services."
