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They could make one turnstile that only accepted monthly tickets.
Though not all residents have those, it's the only obvious way to do it with existing infrastructure.

It's more annoying for me when I've been going into town on a weekend and arrive at the pier to find the gate closed as it's already full. So I end up being at least half an hour late.

But HKKF doesn't care and won't do anything.
They know we have no choice, we have to get home so we will wait. So they can do what they like to us and cater to the more lucrative tourists; they make $47 from each tourist return trip, but get nothing more from us if we have a monthly ticket.

Today's RTHK:

New World First Ferry said on Tuesday that it was planning to set up a special passage for Cheung Chau residents at its piers in Central and outlying islands.

This was in response to complaints from the residents that a large number of tourists visiting the island on public holidays has seriously affected their daily lives.

The company's Corporate Communications Manager, Anthea Chau, said about 100 seats would be reserved on each ferry during public holidays for residents holding monthly passes.

They will be allowed to board the ferries before other passengers.

Ms Chau said she hoped a trial run of the scheme can be introduced on May 25 when tens of thousands of people are expected to visit Cheung Chau for the Bun Festival.

But she said there was a risk that the proposal might lengthen the waiting time of visitors.

Ms Chau said the plan will be finalized after a meeting with Transport Department officials and Cheung Chau residents.

She also said the ferry service was already running at its maximum capacity during peak hours with eight ferries travelling between Central and Cheung Chau every hour.

The Cheung Chau example involves the much more responsive and publicity-savvy First Ferry and it's only for monthly ticket holders, excluding so many Lamma residents, like myself. This option was just introduced by Paul Zimmerman to the still raging Facebook discussion on this Lamma petition to the transport Dept. and it's not proven popular so far:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2418687010/permalink/10152831340337011/

Taking the ferry from and to Aberdeen from YSW is one option, no queues even during weekends! It's just a bus/minibus ride from across the Aberdeen ferry pier to anywhere on HK island, The scenic, along-the-coast 78 minibus has just been extended from Aberdeen-Cyberport now to the new Kennedy MTR station, my new favourite minibus ride.

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"Taking the ferry from and to Aberdeen from YSW is one option, no queues even during weekends! It's just a bus/minibus ride from across the Aberdeen ferry pier to anywhere on HK island, The scenic, along-the-coast 78 minibus has just been extended from Aberdeen-Cyberport now to the new Kennedy MTR station, my new favourite minibus ride."

Sorry LG - that is not so true on a Sat/Sun/PH these days. The past few weeks have been very busy with people from Aberdeen queuing up the gangplank to the end - making it very difficult for those of us heading into Aberdeen to get off the ferry and onto solid land! It's quite a worry actually, with the weight of those queuing to get on, and the pressure of us trying to squeeze past, adding to a huge mass on the narrow gangplank.

They even put on at least one extra ferry at an odd time to get people back to Aberdeen recently.

The whole weekend/PH ferry issue does need an update. It's so frustrating to hurry to catch a ferry only to find it left early and the one you get on is actually a back up which runs late anyway. (Not that I am complaining about that, the last time it happened, at least I got to sit in comfort for 20 minutes and I did get home safely, even if a bit later than expected).

So what can be done?

What has happened? Has this died a death without resolution?

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Confucious may have said: "Don't be too easily hurt or offended. Take a deep breath. Count to 10. Log off and make a cup of tea, or a POT of tea. Don't answer until an hour from now, or tomorrow!"

Yes, this idea has died for now. No feedback, comment or action from HKKF, as usual.

Quite a few comments on this idea and practical advice for residents on Facebook in our Lamma Island group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/lammaisland/search/?query=ferry

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