Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry
| File:Hkf logo1.png | |
| Company type | Public (SEHK: 0050) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transport |
| Founded | 1897 |
| Headquarters | Tsing Yi, Hong Kong |
Key people | Colin Lam Ko Yin, Chairman Dr David Ho, General Manager |
| Products | Ferry, Property |
| Revenue | HKD 764m (2005) |
| HKD 243m | |
Number of employees | 400 |
| Website | http://www.hkf.com/ |
| Footnotes / references Associate of Henderson Land Development | |
The Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited (Chinese: 香港油蔴地小輪有限公司), 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.
History
The original company was founded by a Chinese business man named Lau Tak Po in 1897 during the Colonial Hong Kong era. At the time he purchased 5 wooden boats and provided services exclusively to Kowloon under the company name "Yaumati Ferry".[1]
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 (1933 to 1998) prior to the opening of the Cross Harbour Tunnel, Eastern Harbour Tunnel and Western Harbour Tunnel in 1972, 1989 and 1997. 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.
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 Kee 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 Point, 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.
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 | Converted to nightclub on upper deck | |
| Man Foo | Double deck car ferry | Hong Kong Shipyard | 1982 | Converted to nightclub on upper deck | |
| Man Kim | Double deck car ferry | 1982 | Converted to nightclub on upper deck | ||
| Man Kai | Double deck car ferry | Hong Kong Shipyard | 1986 | ||
| Man Keung | Tugboat | ||||
| 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 and 油蔴地小輪
Business Segments
For the 2005 calendar year, approximately 58% of its revenues were derived from property development projects, while Ferries and Hotels accounted for some 18% and 20% of revenues respectively.
References
- ^ Wiltshire, Trea. [First published 1987] (republished & reduced2003). Old Hong Kong - Volume One. Central, Hong Kong: Text Form Asia books Ltd. Page 71. ISBN Volume One 962-7283-59-2