Goal to stop illegal sampans servicing drug rehab centre
At least three ferry operators have expressed interest in operating passenger services between Cheung Chau and a remote drug rehabilitation centre on Lantau Island, the Transport Department has confirmed.
The move is aimed at replacing the present inter-island passenger sampan services, ruled illegal by the Marine Department, which has been cracking down on boat owners.
Expressions of interest - the second time they had been called by the Transport Department - closed on Thursday.
There had been no response to the department's January invitation to run ferry services to and from the Christian Zheng Sheng Association's Chi Ma Wan centre.
The only way to make the 10-minute trip has been by illegal sampans, according to Jacob Lam Hay-sing, chief executive officer of the association's Chi Ma Wan centre.
