Until 1924, when Stubbs Road was opened, it was the only means of transport to the Peak. The subsequent construction of Magazine Gap Road and the closing of the Peak Hotel detracted greatly from its traffic. Nevertheless, a fifteen minute service of 97 cars daily was maintained from 6 a.m. to 12.15 a.m. until the Japanese attack on Hong Kong. During the hostilities considerable damage was done to the track, engine house and other installations. After repair, a limited service was run during the Japanese occupation until August 1944, when opera- tion ceased altogether.
The liberation of the Colony found the workshops stripped of equipment and tools and the Company's premises looted. Reconstruction was delayed by lack of equipment until Novem- ber, 1945, but on Christmas Day of that year a service of 25 cars daily was started again. At first traffic was entirely casual, but, with the repair of houses on the Peak, regular traffic grew and many workmen began using the cars daily. This service has been gradually increased until now 43 cars a day are run and extra cars whenever fine weather and holidays attract the casual traffic, on which the tramway now relies to a great extent. Regular traffic has declined during 1947 (particularly traffic to the mid-levels) but casual traffic has been heavier this year than during 1946.
Reconstruction, within the limits of the materials and spare parts available, has continued throughout the year. The spare car has been almost entirely rebuilt and is now in service. The other cars are to be reconditioned as soon as possible.
Bus Services.
Bus services in Kowloon and the New Territories are maintained by the Kowloon Motor Bus Company and on Hong Kong Island by the China Motor Bus Co., in accordance with franchises granted by the Government. Both companies have been hindered by the unsatisfactory supply position in fully reopening their bus routes and services; particularly difficult was the delivery of bus chassis from the United Kingdom and tools and machinery. The use of makeshift buses constructed from lorry chassis with built-on superstructure, was begun as an emergency measure in 1946, but it had to continue through 1947 in order that adequate services to cope with the traffic might be maintained. In Kowloon, 68 buses and 75 improvised buses were employed, and almost all pre-war bus routes were restored and a number of new bus routes between Kowloon and the New Territories were instituted. On the Island two further bus routes were resumed and the position is now that the 7 principal routes in operation before the war are once again open for traffic. 30 buses ordered during the Military Administration were delivered to the Kowloon Bus Co., and a further order for 50 buses including 20 double deckers, was placed during the year. The China Motor Bus Co. was not so fortunate in its deliveries of buses ordered from England.
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