A new, more modern ferry terminal is expected to start service in the Nansha Economic and Technological Development Zone next month, furthering ties between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta area.

From the new terminal, high-speed hovercraft will be able to reach Hong Kong's harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui in less than an hour.

According to Yuan Rongmin, deputy general manager of Nansha Ferry Co Ltd, his firm is exploring opening ferry service in the years to come from Nanshan to Macao and Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok International Airport and the Disney Theme Park which is now under construction on Lantau Island.

"Negotiations to open the new ferry service from Nansha are now well under way," said Yuan.

Located at the mouth of the Pearl River, the new terminal reaches a construction floor space of more than 10,700 square meters and is designed to be able to handle more than 900,000 passengers annually.

The new terminal in Guangzhou's Haizhu District is about 38 sea miles away from Hong Kong and 41 sea miles from Macao.

It is close to the newly built Nanshan International Convention and Exhibition Center and the five-star Puzhou Hotel.

Construction commenced in October 2000, costing more than 110 million yuan (US$13.25 million).

Yuan said the terminal will have evening and night ferry launches to Hong Kong to meet the demand created by a growing number of Hong Kong tourists and investors.

(China Daily June 8, 2004)