The Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited (HYF) is a ferry company founded in 1897 in Hong Kong. It is commonly known as Yaumati Ferry. After restructuring the company in 1989, it became a subsidiary of Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) Company Limited ().

Its head office is in the northern Tsing Yi.

History The original company was founded by a Chinese businessman named Lau Tak Po in 1897 during the colonial Hong Kong era. At the time he purchased five wooden boats and provided services exclusively to Kowloon under the company name "Yaumati Ferry".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 Yaumati is the alternative transliteration of Yau Ma Tei.

Until the Ferries Ordinance of 1917, there was no regulation set by the government as to who could run a ferry service. After the ordinance was enacted, no one could operate a ferry service without securing a licence from the government through public tender.Except for Star Ferry, which obtained a different licence under a ordinance passed in 1902. The first companies who obtained the licence during 1919-1921 operated poorly; hence, in April 1923, the government issued a call in the Gazette for a tender to operate the Yaumati ferry service. Lau Tak Po then started to recruit other Chinese merchants to compete for the ferry licence. Eventually, Lau Tak Po, together with 13 other merchants, secured the licence in July 1923, and established "the Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited" with Lau Tak Po and Lau King Cho as the managing directors on 5 November 1923.Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited, The Hongkong & Yaumati Ferry Co.Ltd.: Golden Jubilee, 1923-1973, 6, 13.

Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry obtained the franchise licence for the rights to the transportation route, blocking off competition from Star Ferry company.

On 1 January 1924, Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry commenced its ferry service. The routes included were: Victoria City/Yaumati; Victoria City/Mong Kok Tsui; Victoria City/Sham Shui Po. A fleet of 12 small Wooden hulled vessels were used. Due to warnings from the government as to the low quality of the vessels, the old fleet was eventually replaced by newly built wooden and steel ferries during the 1920s.

Subsequently, the Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry expanded its services to include the vehicular ferry service in 1933.Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited, The Hongkong & Yaumati Ferry Co.Ltd.: Golden Jubilee, 1923-1973, 6, 13. The service transported motor vehicles across Victoria Harbour for many years (from 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 licences in 1999, and these licences were transferred to the New World First Ferry on 15 January 2000.

Ownership and control

According to official documents, Henderson Investment Ltd. is the largest shareholder of Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry's parent company Hong Kong Ferry. Henderson 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

+ HY Ferry Fleet Name Type Seats Builder Year built NotesMan Ying (1st Gen.)Wooden single ended passenger ferry434Kwong Tak Cheong Shipyard1924Changed to diesel engine in 1947, retired 1957.Man Lai (1st Gen.)Double ended passenger ferry412Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Co., Ltd.1925Changed to diesel engine in 1949, retired in 1966.Man Yee (1st Gen.)Double ended passenger ferry412Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Co., Ltd.1925Changed to diesel engine in 1949, retired in 1969.Man Chung (1st Gen.)Double ended passenger ferry412Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Co., Ltd.1925Changed to diesel engine in 1948, retired in 1969.Man Shun (1st Gen.)Double ended passenger ferry412Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Co., Ltd.1925Changed to diesel engine in 1949, retired in 1963.Man Kung (1st Gen.)Double deck car ferry800 people, 22 carsHong Kong and Whampoa Dock Co., Ltd.commissioned 1928, finished 1933Rebuilt in 1948, retired in 1973.Man Kim (1st Gen.)Double deck car ferry368 people, 48 carsHong Kong and Whampoa Dock Co., Ltd.commissioned 1928, finished 1933Rebuilt in 1947, and 1971, retired in 1974.Man Yeung (1st Gen.)Double deck car ferry800 people, 22 carsHong Kong and Whampoa Dock Co., Ltd.commissioned 1928, finished 1933Retired in 1973.Man Gock (1st Gen.)Double deck car FerryHong Kong and Whampoa Dock Co., Ltd.commissioned 1928, finished 1933Sunk at West River (西江) during WWII 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 Choey Lee Shipyard 1981 retired Xin Fa Triple deck ferry 1298 Hong Kong Shipyard 1981 ex-Man Fat; sold to NWFF Xin Ying Double deck ferry 673 - now 604 Hong Kong Shipyard 1982 ex-Man Ying; sold to NWFF Xin Zhong Double deck ferry 676 Hong Kong Shipyard 1982 ex-Man Chung; sold to NWFF Xin Xing Triple deck ferry 1298 Hong Kong Shipyard 1981 ex-Man Hing; 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 Chao Triple deck ferry 1728 Hong Kong Shipyard 1983 ex-Man Chiu; sold to NWFF Xin Guang Triple deck ferry 1505 Hong Kong Shipyard 1985 ex-Man Kwong; sold to NWFF Xin Fei Triple deck ferry 1582 Hong Kong Shipyard 1986 ex-Man Fee; sold to NWFF Xin Guo Triple deck ferry 1582 Hong Kong Shipyard 1988 ex-Man Kwok; sold to NWFF HKF I Waterjet Catamaran 433 Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard 1993 HKF III Type: Waterjet Catamaran 433 Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard 1994 Aquan One Double hull Catamaran 208 Afai Shipyard 1997 Aquan Two Double hull Catamaran 230 Afai Shipyard 1999

Notes

References

External links HYF Official Page on HKF website The Industrial History of Hong Kong article