Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry explained

The Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Co. Ltd.
Type:subsidiary
Location:Tsing Yi, Hong Kong
Key People:Colin Lam Ko Yin, Chairman
Dr David Ho, General Manager
Industry:Transport
Products:Ferry, Property
Num Employees:400
Parent:Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) Company Limited (Henderson Land Development's associate company)

The Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited (HYF), is a ferry company founded in 1897 in Hong Kong. It is commonly known as Yaumati Ferry. After restructuring the company in 1989, it became a subsidiary of Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) Company Limited .

Its head office is in the northern Tsing Yi.[1]

History

The original company was founded by a Chinese business man named Lau Tak Po in 1897 during the Colonial Hong Kong era. At the time he purchased 5 wooden boats and provided services exclusively to Kowloon under the company name "Yaumati Ferry".[2] Yaumati is the alternative transliteration of Yau Ma Tei.

In 1924, Yaumati Ferry obtained the franchise license for the rights to the transportation route, blocking off competition from Star Ferry company.

The company later became "Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry". This included the vehicular ferry which served to transport motor vehicles across Victoria Harbour for many years (1933 to 1998) prior to the opening of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, Eastern Harbour Tunnel and Western Harbour Tunnel in 1972, 1989 and 1997. The company decided to give up the ferry licenses in 1999, and these licenses were transferred to the New World First Ferry on 15 January 2000.

Ownership and control

According to official documents, Henderson Investment Ltd. is the largest shareholder of Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry's parent company Hong Kong Ferry. Henderson beneficially owning 31.33% of the share capital of the Company as at 31 December 2005. Henderson chairman Dr. Lee Shau Kee and Vice Chairman Colin Lam are also Directors of the Company.

End of ferry service

Although it gave up its franchised ferry licences in 2000, the company retained the Dangerous Goods Vehicular Ferry Service routes between North Point, Kwun Tong, and Mui Wo, as these vehicles are not allowed to go through any one of the three cross harbour tunnels, while Mui Wo is situated on Lantau Island.

Fleet

HY Ferry Fleet
NameTypeSeatsBuilderYear BuiltNotes
Man On Double deck car ferryHong Kong Shipyard1981
Man LokDouble deck car ferryHong Kong Shipyard 1982Converted to nightclub on upper deck
Man FooDouble deck car ferryHong Kong Shipyard 1982Converted to nightclub on upper deck
Man KimDouble deck car ferry1982Converted to nightclub on upper deck
Man KaiDouble deck car ferryHong Kong Shipyard 1986
Man KeungTugboat
Man LaiDouble deck ferry364Hong Kong Shipyard 1970 retired
Man WoDouble deck ferry532Hong Kong Shipyard 1980retired
Man HeiDouble deck ferry436Built Choey Lee Shipyard 1981retired
Xin ZhongDouble deck ferry676Hong Kong Shipyard 1982ex-Man Chung; sold to NWFF
Xin YingDouble deck ferry673 - now 604Hong Kong Shipyard 1982ex-Man Ying; sold to NWFF
Man HeenDouble deck ferry671 - now 650Hong Kong Shipyard 1982
Xin JieDouble deck ferry671 - now 666Hong Kong Shipyard 1983ex-Man Kit; sold to NWFF
Xin Xing Triple deck ferry1298Constructed by Hong Kong Shipyard 1981ex-Man Hing; sold to NWFF
Xin Fa Triple deck ferry1298 Constructed by Hong Kong Shipyard 1981ex-Man Fat; sold to NWFF
Xin Chao Triple deck ferry1728 Constructed by Hong Kong Shipyard 1983ex-Man Chiu; sold to NWFF
Xin Guang Triple deck ferry1505 Constructed by Hong Kong Shipyard 1985ex-Man Kwong; sold to NWFF
Xin Fei Triple deck ferry1582Constructed by Hong Kong Shipyard 1986ex-Man Fee; sold to NWFF
Xin Guo Triple deck ferry1582 Constructed by Hong Kong Shipyard 1988ex-Man Kwok; sold to NWFF
Aquan OneDouble hull Catamaran208 Constructed by Afai Shipyard 1997
Aquan TwoDouble hull Catamaran 230Constructed by Afai Shipyard 1999
HKF IWaterjet Catamaran 433 Constructed by Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard 1993
HKF III Type: Waterjet Catamaran 433Constructed by Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard 1994

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Contact Us. Hong Kong Ferry. 2020-12-18. The Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited 98 Tam Kon Shan Road, TYTL 102, Ngau Kok Wan, North Tsing Yi, New Territories, Hong Kong.
  2. Wiltshire, Trea. [First published 1987] (republished & reduced2003). Old Hong Kong - Volume One. Central, Hong Kong: Text Form Asia books Ltd. Page 71. ISBN Volume One 962-7283-59-2