GENERAL SURVEY
THERE was a moderate increase in both goods and passenger traffic during the year (see Appendices IV and V) resulting in higher earnings as indicated below:
(a) Gross railway revenue at $16,478,389 was $478,784 more than in 1969-70 and $212,226 more than the previous record of $16,266,163 in 1966-67.
(b) Goods revenue at $7,289,860 was $118,059 more than in 1969-70. (c) Passenger revenue at $8,134,795 was $206,793 more than the
record of $7,928,002 in 1969-70.
2. A total of 877,502 metric tons of goods was transported by the Railway during the year, compared with 889,396 metric tons in the previous year, a decrease of 1.34%. 99.8% of the goods traffic con- sisted of imports from China, which amounted to 875,432 metric tons compared with 887,928 metric tons in the previous year, a decrease of 1.40%. Export tonnage was 796, a decrease of 14 metric tons, and goods carried within the Colony amounted to 1,273 metric tons, an increase of 615 metric tons.
3. This slight drop in tonnage was offset by the increase in the number of live pigs carried by the Railway during the year. The total imported was 1,164,034 head, the highest figure ever recorded and 123,240 head more than the record of 1,040,794 in 1969-70.
4. The number of passengers carried was 10,357,252 as against 10,299,164 in the previous year, an increase of 0.56%, which estab- lished a new record (see Appendix XV). Of these, 9,711,427 were local passengers which is also a new record (see Appendix XVI) and represents an increase of 2.11% over last year's total of 9,511,124. 645,825 persons travelled to and from China compared with 788,040 during the previous year.
5. In order to improve efficiency a new power signalling system was installed between University and Tai Po Kau Stations to replace the old mechanical signals.
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