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"The conversion of entrances would amount to the re-construction of almost the entire body, which, of course, cannot be made to the whole fleet of our vehicles at the same time, but to only a few at a time, thus this conversion will take a long time to complete.
"The problem concerning the change of position of the steering wheel of our forward-control vehicles appears unsolvable because of the fact that the engine on this type of vehicle is so designed as to allow only a very limited space on the left-hand side of it; and this space is occupied by the dynamo and the fuel injection pump and its control rods which are required to be accessible and adjusted frequently.
"Besides, it will be difficult, at first, and take some time to break the habit of pedestrians who are used to the left-hand regulation. This will none the less apply to drivers and will tend to increase the number of accidents.
"For the reasons given we are not in favour of the proposed change."
The position of the Kowloon Motor Bus Company is the same so far as their forward- control vehicles are concerned. As regards the bus bodies, these would need to be reconstructed in order to have the entrances on the other side of the vehicle.
You are well acquainted with the difficulties that would confront the Hong Kong Tramways Limited in the event of a change in the Rule of the Road. Partial reconstruc- tion of the double deck car body would be necessary for the reason that the staircase would be on the off instead of the nearside. There are 112 cars and it is estimated that this work would cost $50,000 and, at one car per week, would take 2 years to complete.
Then there is the permanent way. There are 17 crossover tracks on the system and the trailing points would, with a change, become facing points. All these crossover tracks would require to be reversed (at a cost yet to be estimated).
We have not exaggerated the difficulties which would confront the three road passenger transport concerns.
On the other hand, we owe it to them and to hundreds of thousands of people who travel in these vehicles not to minimise or underrate those difficulties. There are not sufficient trams and buses on the streets of the Colony at the present time to cope with the insatiable demand which intensifies daily. If a change in the Rule of the Road were ordered and a certain number of buses and trams had to be withdrawn from service for partial re-construction, the travelling public would suffer and, in our view, suffer unnecessarily.
Yet we feel sure that these three Companies would be prepared to make the sacrifice involved if by so doing they were helping the Government or if they felt the Colony would derive any benefit. We can, in fact, think of only one class who would gain. We refer to those motor vehicle dealers who are agents for American cars.
You will remember that you caused a press notice to be published in all the Hong Kong newspapers on August 10th inviting comments and views on the proposed change in the Rule of the Road. The only response to this Press notice (other than the letter from Far East Motors) was a letter from the Hon. Leo d'Almada. This is part of his letter:
"Your Committee invites views. Here are mine:
"I consider it premature to recommend any change-Reasons:
"1. Heavy expense, so far as trams and buses are concerned.
"2. It is doubtful how long or how often this Canton Road will remain
open in view of:
(a) possibility of washouts and other damage,
(6) turmoil in China (civil war),
(e) banditry.
"3. For the reason in (c) above it remains to be seen how much use
will be made of the road when open.
"4. I have always understood that English drivers find no difficulty in switching over to the "right" rule when on the Continent and back again to the "left" rule on returning home. There is no reason to suppose that other drivers will find any difficulty.
"5. Again, for reasons (b) and (c) it seems to me that the road is. likely to be used only by lorries travelling in convoy. And their number won't be large. You will therefore be changing this rule to suit a very small minority at very great inconvenience to the majority, including pedestrians who are bad enough "jay-walkers" as things are without their having to adapt themselves to looking in directions opposite to the present before crossing etc."