Just in one hour and ten minutes, people can now travel by ship between Macao and Shenzhen in south China.

A Hong Kong company launched pilot trips Sunday on the sea route -- which connects the Hongkong-Macao Ferry Terminal with Shenzhen's Fuyong port -- using a catamaran with a carrying capacity of 266 people.

There will be two return trips everyday, offering great convenience to passengers who will otherwise spend about three hours on a land route.

This is tailored to the growing demand of traveler flow in the Pearl River delta, an economically advantaged area in south China,the authorities note. At present, ferry services between Macao and Hong Kong, compounded by train services between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, are very frequent.

( Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2002)