Following is a question by the Hon Lothair Lam and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):

Question:

     According to the records of the Marine Department, the number of passengers using the two cross-boundary ferry terminals (CBFTs) (namely the China Ferry Terminal and the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal) which were managed by the Government stood at 7.74 million in 2025, representing a decrease of 6.5 per cent from 2024, of which the passenger trips handled by the China Ferry Terminal, which accounted for less than 11 per cent of the total passenger throughput, had plunged by 33 per cent. However, the statistics of the Immigration Department show that the staff establishments of the two CBFTs were still comparable over the past four financial years, indicating that the Government has not adjusted resource allocation in response to changes in the demand for cross-boundary passenger services. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) in respect of each government department, of the respective (i) current staff establishments, and (ii) expenditures incurred for the operation, repair and maintenance of the two CBFTs last year, as well as the expenditure estimates for this year;

(2) given that quite a number of passengers have relayed that pier facilities are ageing, whether it has studied the merging of the two CBFTs, thereby reallocating the government resources thus saved to further enhance the facilities at the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal; if it has studied, of the outcome; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) as it is learnt that the water depth of the two CBFTs can accommodate vessels with a displacement of several hundred tonnes, and that they are also equipped with immigration clearance and customs facilities, whether the authorities will study converting them into a passenger transfer centre specialising in handling small to medium-sized cruise ships and pleasure vessels?

Reply: 

President,

     To seize the development opportunities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been working closely with the Guangdong and Macao governments on the provision of a comprehensive and diversified cross-boundary transportation network, so as to address the demand for cross-boundary travel between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. Cross-boundary ferry services, being part of the cross-boundary transportation network, help promote the connectivity at sea between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region. At present, there are two cross-boundary ferry terminals (CBFTs) managed by the Government, namely the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal and the China Ferry Terminal, providing a total of eight routes of cross-boundary ferry services connecting Hong Kong and Macau, as well as Mainland cities.

     On another front, the commissioning of key strategic cross-boundary infrastructures such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link in recent years, coupled with the ongoing enhancement of various measures to facilitate the flow of cross-boundary vehicles including Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles and Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles, have further improved the transport connectivity within the GBA and shortened the travel time between Hong Kong and other cities in the GBA. Meanwhile, these cross-boundary infrastructures and measures have diverted the demand for cross-boundary ferry services to other land-based travel modes.

     In consultation with relevant bureaux and departments, my reply to the question raised by the Hon Lothair Lam is as follows:

(1) The staffing at the CBFTs is mainly responsible for performing routine duties such as property management, access control of vessels, operation of facilities, immigration clearance, quarantine clearance, security and emergency responses. These tasks are not directly linked to patronages. As such, despite the patronages of cross-boundary ferries have shown decreasing trend in recent years, the relevant staffing cannot be trimmed proportionally.

     With regard to departments at boundary control points, the staff establishments of the Immigration Department and the Customs and Excise Department at the two CBFTs in 2026-27 are 325 and 149 respectively, with a reduction of about 6.1 per cent and about 4.5 per cent as compared to 2025-26. The relevant departments has been closely monitoring the passenger flow in various control points and implement different measures, including flexibly allocating manpower, optimising workflows, and making good use of information technology etc, to continuously improve the handling capacity and efficiency of the control points and to ensure their smooth operation. While the Department of Health does not maintain a fixed staff establishment at the two CBFTs, approximately five supervisors are deployed to oversee daily health screening conducted by contractors. The relevant expenditures associated with various control points of the above departments are subsumed under their overall expenditures, and hence specific breakdowns for the two CBFTs are unavailable.

     For the Marine Department, the staff establishment at the two CBFTs in 2026-27 is 68, with a reduction of about 2.9 per cent as compared to 2025-26. In 2025-26 and 2026-27, the actual and estimated expenditures for the two CBFTs (inclusive of operation and maintenance expenditures) are about 250 million and 260 million respectively.

(2) Any proposals involving the integration of ferry services or the restructuring of resources of the two CBFTs must be subject to prudent examination, and consideration should be given particularly to the capacity of the CBFT and the associated facilities upon integration of services. The Government has to assess a number of factors, including whether the condition of the existing facilities at any CBFT can assume the function and role of the sole CBFT in the long run; the technical feasibility of the works and any necessary alterations; the impact on passengers, operators and the overall cross-boundary transportation network; as well as the financial viability and cost-effectiveness involved. The Government will continue to closely monitor the long-term operation of the two CBFTs and be open-minded in exploring various options that can promote their sustainable development, including the feasibility of the aforementioned proposal of merging of the two CBFTs.

(3) At present, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and the Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui provide a total of four berthing spaces for cruise ships of different sizes, which are sufficient for the parking of inbound cruise ships. Meanwhile, the Government and relevant organisations are currently exploring the provision of additional yacht berthing facilities at various locations. As regards the proposal of converting the CBFTs into passenger transit centres designated for small and medium-sized cruise ships and pleasure vessels, cautious consideration must be given not only to the changes in demand for cross-boundary ferry services, the long-term operation of the two CBFTs, and the technical feasibility of adjusting their usage, but also to the market demand for and investment interest in facilities related to small and medium-sized cruise ships and pleasure vessels. The Government will adopt an open-minded approach and maintain communication with the industry and stakeholders on optimising the use of the CBFTs, enhancing operational efficiency, and improving resource effectiveness, with a view to exploring feasible business models and assessing the cost-effectiveness of relevant proposals. The Government will carefully examine various proposals and take appropriate follow-up actions in the light of actual circumstances.

     Thank you, President.

Ends/Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Issued at HKT 15:35

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