WE refer to the letter from a Lamma resident (''Name and Address Supplied'', South China Morning Post, February 25) asking if we launched an anti-smoking campaign at the expense of delaying the 7.45 am ferry service on February 22.
The anti-smoking campaign and ferry delay are two separate issues. We had no intention of holding up the ferry for the sake of promoting the no-smoking message to passengers. The delay on February 22 was caused by some late-arriving passengers and the new ticketing process.
As our staff were still on the learning curve in the computerised ticketing system installed at Lamma pier at the end of February, there was a little delay in the ticketing process. We apologise for the inconvenience caused.
Remedial action has been taken. Now electronic turnstiles are also used in addition to the two computerised ticketing turnstiles to speed up passenger flow during morning peak hours. To remind passengers to be punctual, the alarm bell is sounded out fiveminutes ahead of the scheduled 7.45 am departure time. In fact our ferry is berthed at Lamma pier as early as 7.30 am, so we urge passengers to board a little earlier to avoid delay.
Another reader Mr Jonathan Wall claimed that he witnessed no enforcer on illegal gambling on board the 7.45 am ferry from Cheung Chau to Central on the first day of the anti-smoking campaign (Post, February 26).
Under the Gambling Ordinance, playing cards without money transactions may not contravene the law. Chapter 148 of the ordinance defines illegal gambling. Unless Mr Wall can provide evidence that what he claimed ''illegal'' gambling involved a money transaction, we cannot accept his claim that we were not enforcing the no-gambling laws. In fact our company did initiate action in this respect where a passenger was prosecuted for the offence of illegal gambling on board. Unfortunately, we could not get a conviction from the court.