16. Torrential rainstorms associated with typhoon "Dot", which came close to Hong Kong on 16th and 17th June, 1973, caused extensive damage to Railway property amounting to approximately $300,000.00, but there was only a minor interruption of railway traffic. On 21st July, 1973, due to heavy rains, land- slides occurred at Mile 1.3/4 and at Mong Kok Station resulting in the suspen- sion of train services between Mong Kok and the New Territories for one day. It cost about $240,000.00 to remove the obstruction and carry out the necessary repairs.
17. UMELCO members Dr. the Hon. CHUNG Sze-yuen, O.B.E., J.P., Hon. LEE Quo-wie, 0.B.E., J.P., and Hon. ANN Tse-kai, O.B.E., J.P., paid a visit to the Railway on 31st May, 1973. They also visited the site of the new Terminus now under construction in Hung Hom.
18.
The Hon. Colonial Secretary, Mr. D.T. E. Roberts, C.B.E., Q.C., visited the Railway on 23rd August, 1973, and had talks with Section Heads and other senior officers.
19.
TRAFFIC
Traffic earnings for the year under review amounted to $21,996,433 showing an increase of $1,438,123 (7%) in comparison with the previous year.
20.
Passenger Traffic. Local passenger journeys increased by 5.19%. An increase of 20.01% occurred on international journeys. The latter is attri- buted to the attraction of China as a business and tourist centre.
21. On Ching Ming Festival Day, 5th April, 1973, and Chung Yeung Festival Day, 4th October, 1973, an additional 29 and 24 special trains were operated respectively to facilitate visits to the cemeteries at Wo Hop Shek and Sandy Ridge. The total number of passengers carried on these festivals was 162,003.
22. On Dragon Boat Festival Day, 5th April, 1973, 21 trains were added to the normal daily train services to carry spectators to the boat races in New Territories. The total number of passengers carried was 35,848.
23. On Mid-Autumn Festival Public Holiday, 12th September, 1973, the daily services were supplemented by 16 special trains. A total of 50,141 passengers was carried on this day.
24. January 25th, 1974, the third Day in the First Moon of the lunar calendar was the peak of railway travel during the Chinese New Year period with a total of 74,281 passengers.
25. The figures for passenger traffic, showing number of journeys and revenue, appear in Appendix IV.
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