The working conditions of the government dockyard in Canton Road began to deteriorate in the early 1980s due to the increased number of colonial launches using the facilities. A consultant was engaged to study the operation and maintenance of the government craft. A report was completed in October 1986, listing the inadequacies found in the existing dockyard. It was recommended that the dockyard needed to be modernised in five phases. As phase 1 was in progress, it was estimated that the remaining four phases required HK$114 million to complete. At the same time, the West Kowloon Reclamation Scheme was initiated for the Airport Core Projects, so in mid-1995 the government dockyard had to be relocated. Under such circumstances, only Phase 3 was to go ahead as much of the equipment could be re-used in the new dockyard. In 1990, part of the works, such as site investigation, was upgraded to Category A. The whole project was upgraded to Category A in February 1991, with an estimated cost of HK$23 million. However, the project was shelved in an internal cost-benefit review of the works, after taking into various considerations. In September 1993, the project was deleted from the category list.[22]
The consultant also recommended the use of computers in the dockyard. In December 1991, the Marine Department applied to the Finance Committee for HK$24 million for the implementation of a computer system. The system, known as the Government Fleet Information System (GFIS), incorporated a Planning Maintenance System (PMS) and an Inventory Management System (IMS). With the implementation of the system, planning and estimation of maintenance works could be easily conducted. The system saved up to HK$10 million in the following year, and no additional staff resources were required.[23]
Besides, the consultation report also pointed out that the staff size of the Government Dockyard and the Government Fleet should be reviewed. In particular, there were seven crew members for each colonial launch in the mid-1980s, whereas a commercial vessel below 13 meters was normally operated effectively by only three to four crew members.[24]
The Marine Department started to reorganise its establishment in 1992 by introducing the Unmanned Machinery Space and Bridge Control System on government launches, restructuring and revising crew manning, and enhancing crew training programme to meet the new operational needs. Before the reduction scheme, a typical government launch was generally manned by a coxswain, a launch mechanic, two sailors, and an oiler. The modernisation of launches permits remote control of the engine from the bridge instead of manual control in the engine room. Enhanced training courses were arranged for crew, as the launch master was now required to undertake the duties of both coxswain and launch mechanic. Two Launch Assistants were assigned to each launch to carry out the duties of both sailor and oiler. At the same time, an Inter-departmental Government Dockyard Consultancy Working Group (GDCWG) was established to review the organisational structure of the Government Dockyard.
As a follow-up to the recommendations of the consultancy report, the Marine Department decided to outsource more maintenance and repair work to commercial contractors and the move was endorsed by the GDCWG. Hence, a new Term Contract Unit was set up under the Fleet Maintenance Section to supervise work carried out by the term contractors. Besides, a Forward Base Unit was also set up to supervise and co-ordinate the maintenance teams at the Marine Police Divisional Bases. To further enhance the efficiency of maintenance work, a new Planning Section, which was later renamed Support Services Section in 1996, was established to formulate and monitor preventative maintenance policies for the Government fleet.[25]
In December 1991, the consultancy report on the feasibility of moving the Canton Road Dockyard to Stonecutters Island was completed, confirming the viability of the relocation.[26]
The new dockyard is located in the northern part of Stonecutters Island, with a total area of 64,673 square meters. The total building coverage is 9,135 square meters, while the total open area is 55,538 square meters. The basin has an area of 8.3 hectares, which was shared by the Government Dockyard and Royal Navy vessels in Tamar until 1997.
The reclamation and marine works started in February 1993. To meet the extremely tight schedule, the site was separated into three zones which were handed over by the building contractor upon completion of works zone by zone. The building works commenced in February 1994 immediately after the handover of the first zone, while marine works continued concurrently. It took only 14 months to complete all the works. The dockyard was handed over to the Marine Department on 24 April 1995. It continues to provide comprehensive support and maintenance services for the Government Fleet, which is of increasing sophistication and size.
Notes:
- [22]GD/126/3/6, Hong Kong Public Records Office, 27.
- [23]《華僑日報》，1991年12月29日。
- [24]Review of the Workmen, Establishment of Government Dockyard, 1986, p.2; Interview of M.C. Tsang.
- [25]Statistical Tables of the Marine Department of Hong Kong, 1986-1988.
- [26]Urban Area Development Office, Territory Development Department, West Kowloon Reclamation : Government Dockyard relocation outline feasibility study final report December 1991.
Part 2 Chapter 3.6 - The reorganisation of staff of the Government Dockyard and the Government Fleet, the improvement to the Canton Road Government Dockyard, and the relocation of the Government Dockyard to Stonecutters Island (1981 to 2000)
