Necessary

I refer to the letter which was published in the Sunday Morning Post on December 14 from David Slough who questioned the need for conducting checks on ferries from Lamma Island to Central.

As pointed out in a previous reply carried in the South China Morning Post, on December 5, the checks were conducted as a result of complaints against overloading and at the request of the Transport Department. This has led to a few summonses being issued although no overloading has been encountered so far. I regret that inconvenience has been caused to commuters by these checks, but they are entirely necessary and are conducted in the interests of public safety.

Mr Slough may wish to note that a number of operations have been conducted by plainclothes officers to reduce the need for ferries to be stopped and thus minimise the inconvenience caused.

As Mr Slough did not specify which particular occasion he is referring to, I can only point out the general circumstances during which identity cards would be checked.

Police in Marine Region conduct random checks of ferries for a number of reasons, including interdiction of illegal immigrants attempting to enter Hong Kong through the Outlying Islands, for which the production of identity cards is necessary.

Should Mr Slough require any further information, he is most welcome to contact the District Commander of Marine Police Port District, Chu Wing-hong, on 25554418.