Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry
Encyclopedia
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 (油蔴地小輪). After restructuring the company in 1989, it became a subsidiary of Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) Company Limited (香港小輪(集團)有限公司).
The company extended its business from ferry into property
development and investment, shipyard
, travel
and hotel
, with 400 staff.
era. At the time he purchased 5 wooden boats and provided services exclusively to Kowloon
under the company name "Yaumati Ferry".
In 1924 Yaumati Ferry obtained the franchise
license for the rights to the transportation route, blocking off competition from Star Ferry
company. As a result, the Yaumati Ferry company became the largest Chinese-owned company in the world at that point in time, profiting from the transportation demand of Kowloon expansion.
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 prior to the opening of the Cross Harbour Tunnel in 1972. 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.
and Vice Chairman Colin Lam are also Directors of the Company.
, 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.
Source Gary Photo Collections
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. It is commonly known as Yaumati Ferry (油蔴地小輪). After restructuring the company in 1989, it became a subsidiary of Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) Company Limited (香港小輪(集團)有限公司).
The company extended its business from ferry into property
Property
Property is any physical or intangible entity that is owned by a person or jointly by a group of people or a legal entity like a corporation...
development and investment, shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
, travel
Travel
Travel is the movement of people or objects between relatively distant geographical locations. 'Travel' can also include relatively short stays between successive movements.-Etymology:...
and hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
, with 400 staff.
History
The original company was founded by a Chinese business man named Lau Tak Po in 1897 during the Colonial Hong KongColonial Hong Kong
In the 19th century the British, Dutch, French, Indians and Americans saw Imperial China as the world's largest untapped market. In 1840 the British Empire launched their first and one of the most aggressive expeditionary forces to claim the territory that would later be known as Hong Kong.In a few...
era. At the time he purchased 5 wooden boats and provided services exclusively to Kowloon
Kowloon
Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
under the company name "Yaumati Ferry".
In 1924 Yaumati Ferry obtained the franchise
Government-granted monopoly
In economics, a government-granted monopoly is a form of coercive monopoly by which a government grants exclusive privilege to a private individual or firm to be the sole provider of a good or service; potential competitors are excluded from the market by law, regulation, or other mechanisms of...
license for the rights to the transportation route, blocking off competition from Star Ferry
Star Ferry
The Star Ferry, or The "Star" Ferry Company, is a passenger ferry service operator in Hong Kong. Its principal routes carry passengers across Victoria Harbour, between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon...
company. As a result, the Yaumati Ferry company became the largest Chinese-owned company in the world at that point in time, profiting from the transportation demand of Kowloon expansion.
The company later became "Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry". This included the vehicular ferry which served to transport motor vehicles across Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour is a natural landform harbour situated between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong. The harbour's deep, sheltered waters and strategic location on the South China Sea were instrumental in Hong Kong's establishment as a British colony and its subsequent...
for many years prior to the opening of the Cross Harbour Tunnel in 1972. The company decided to give up the ferry licenses in 1999, and these licenses were transferred to the New World First Ferry
New World First Ferry
New World First Ferry Services Limited is a ferry service company in Hong Kong. The company was established in November 1999, when it took over the 8 licensed ferry routes transferred from the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry...
on 15 January 2000.
Ownership and control
According to official documents, Henderson Investment Ltd. is the company's largest shareholder, beneficially owning 31.33% of the share capital of the Company as at 31 December 2005. Henderson chairman Dr. Lee Shau KeeLee Shau Kee
Lee Shau-kee GBM is a property developer and majority owner of Henderson Land Development , a property conglomerate with interests in properties, hotels, restaurants and internet services...
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 PointNorth Point
North Point is a mixed-use urban area in the Eastern District of Hong Kong. It is the northernmost point of Hong Kong Island, adjacent to both Causeway Bay and Quarry Bay, and projecting toward Kowloon Bay. Fortress Hill occupies the western end of the North Point area.-History:In 1899, The...
, Kwun Tong
Kwun Tong
Kwun Tong is an area in Kwun Tong District, situated at the eastern part of the Kowloon Peninsula, and its boundary stretches from Lion Rock in the north to Lei Yue Mun in the south, and from the winding paths of Kowloon Peak in the east to the north coast of the former Kai Tak Airport runway in...
, and Mui Wo
Mui Wo
Mui Wo is a rural town on the eastern coast of Lantau Island in Hong Kong. The main beach in Mui Wo is known as Silver Mine Bay .-History:...
, 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
| Name | Type | Seats | Builder | Year Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Man On | double deck car ferry | Hong Kong Shipyard | 1981 | ||
| Man Lok | double deck car ferry | Hong Kong Shipyard | 1982 | ||
| Man Foo | double deck car ferry | Hong Kong Shipyard | 1982 | ||
| Man Kai | double deck car ferry | Hong Kong Shipyard | 1986 | ||
| Man Lai | double deck ferry | 364 | Hong Kong Shipyard | 1970 | retired |
| Man Wo | double deck ferry | 532 | Hong Kong Shipyard | 1980 | retired |
| Man Hei | double deck ferry | 436 | Built Choey Lee Shipyard | 1981 | retired |
| Xin Zhong | double deck ferry | 676 | Hong Kong Shipyard | 1982 | Ex-Man Chung; sold to NWFF |
| Xin Ying | double deck ferry | 673 - now 604 | Hong Kong Shipyard | 1982 | Ex-Man Ying; sold to NWFF |
| Man Heen | double deck ferry | 671 - now 650 | Hong Kong Shipyard | 1982 | |
| Xin Jie | double deck ferry | 671 - now 666 | Hong Kong Shipyard | 1983 | Ex-Man Kit; sold to NWFF |
| Xin Xing | Triple deck ferry | 1298 | Constructed by Hong Kong Shipyard | 1981 | ex-Man Hing; sold to NWFF |
| Xin Fa | Triple deck ferry | 1298 | Constructed by Hong Kong Shipyard | 1981 | ex-Man Fat; sold to NWFF |
| Xin Chao | Triple deck ferry | 1728 | Constructed by Hong Kong Shipyard | 1983 | ex-Man Chiu; sold to NWFF |
| Xin Guang | Triple deck ferry | 1505 | Constructed by Hong Kong Shipyard | 1985 | ex-Man Kwong; sold to NWFF |
| Xin Fei | Triple deck ferry | 1582 | Constructed by Hong Kong Shipyard | 1986 | ex-Man Fee; sold to NWFF |
| Xin Guo | Triple deck ferry | 1582 | Constructed by Hong Kong Shipyard | 1988 | ex-Man Kwok; sold to NWFF |
| Aquan One | Double hull Catamaran | 208 | Constructed by Afai Shipyard | 1997 | |
| Aquan Two | Double hull Catamaran | 230 | Constructed by Afai Shipyard | 1999 | |
| HKF I | Waterjet Catamaran | 433 | Constructed by Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard | 1993 | |
| HKF III | Type: Waterjet Catamaran | 433 | Constructed by Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard | 1994 |
Source Gary Photo Collections