Ferry Terminal to Link HK Airport, Pearl River Delta

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 ◆ Ferry Terminal to Link HK Airport, Pearl River Delta

Passengers who transit for China's Pearl River Delta via the Hong Kong International Airport will be spared Hong Kong Customs and Immigration formalities, according to a ferry terminal agreement signed Friday. The agreement was reached between the Airport Authority Hong Kong and the Hong Kong International Airport Ferry Terminal Services Ltd., a joint venture of Chu Kong Passenger Transport Co Ltd. and Shun Tak China Travel International Logistics Investment Ltd. The joint venture will invest about 15 million HK dollars (1.9 million U.S. dollars) in renovating the existing Chek Lap Kok ferry terminal, currently used for commuter services from the airport to Tuen Mun, a district of Hong Kong, to enable passengersto travel between the airport and ports at the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in the southeast of the Chinese mainland with a population of26 million. "As the upgraded ferry terminal will in effect be an extension of the Passenger Terminal airside area, these transfer passengers will not need to undergo Hong Kong Customs and Immigration formalities," said AA Commercial Director Hans Bakker. Chu Kong will have a 60 percent shareholding in the venture with the remainder held by Shun Tak and China Travel. Chu Kong Passenger Transport and Shun Tak China Travel operate a total of more than 70 high speed passenger vessels. About 1.5 million passengers used the shuttle bus service between the airport and the PRD last year, but they have to undergo Hong Kong Customs and Immigration formalities, said EstherWong, AA communication manager. She said a permanent ferry terminal linking the airport and ports of the PRD is scheduled to be completed at a separate location at the airport area by the end of 2005, when Hong Kong's Disneyland begins operation.