Coal, steel, sleepers, wages etc. are from four to six times higher, and a proportion of these increases must be passed on to the consumer if the railway is to pay its way.
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TRAFFIC
9. Traffic earnings showed a decrease of 50.13% on those of the previous year.
10. In Statement No. 7 at the end of the report, passenger traffic is analysed in the two main categories, i.e., (a) bookings to and from Lowu Station and (b), bookings to and from stations other than Lowu.
(a) Bookings to and from Lowu (non-local).
Passengers who use Lowu Station-the border and terminal station of the British Section-are principally those going into or leaving China. In addition, the figures include a small percentage of people who visit Lowu to meet their friends from China, or to see them off at the frontier, and local residents from neighbour- ing villages. The large decrease is entirely due to the restriction on travel referred to in paragraph 1.
(b) Bookings to and from stations other than Lowu (local).
Passengers using intermediate stations, i.e., stations other than Lowu, are practically all Hong Kong and New Territory residents. There was an increase of 203,525 in number, or 7.46% over the preceding year; and $15,824 in receipts, an increase of 7.47%. This is attributable to more people picnicking and hiking in the New Territories and to the growth in population.
11. Goods traffic figures, sub-divided into (a) Invoiced to and from Lowu and (b), Invoiced to and from stations other than Lowu, are set out in Statement No. 6 (Part 1).
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