505
: *#. before whom he was permitted to attend and discuss the proposed amendments, that 3 cents for a single journey was the very lowest fare at which it could possibly pay the Tramway Company to carry passengers, but the Law Committee were clearly of opinion that the spreading of the working population of this Colony was of such paramount importance that the Tramway Company ought to be compelled to carry working men at the lower rate recommended by the Law Committee, even though such a rate should not prove remunerative to the Company, and the Law Committee also pointed out to Mr. Shewan that such workmen's cars could not be run later than Seven o'clock in the morning or earlier than half past five in the evening and that Railway Companies at home were compelled by Law to run cheap trains for working men.
The Law Committee, however, were at the same time anxious that the Tramway Company should receive some quid pro quo, as a set-off against
(1). The reduction of fares for workmen; and
(2). The liability of the Tramway Company to have the number of workman's cars indefinitely increased by resolution of the Legislative Council; and accordingly, as will be seen by comparing the new clause 47 of the Bill with the original clause 47, the Tramway Company has been relieved from the payment of any Royalty to the Government for the first ten years. Before the expiration of that period it may reasonably be anticipated, judging from the experience of the Peak Tramway, that the Tramway Company will be making very good profits.
As to recommendation 11 of the Law Committee, it was thought desirable to make the fares specified in clause 49 the maximum fares chargeable; leaving liberty to the Company to reduce those fares or some of them, if the Company hereafter thought it desirable to do so.
Recommendation 12 of the Law Committee has already been considered in conjunction with recommendation 10.
As to recommendation 13, This alteration was recommended because it was considered that, as in the case of cars on the Peak Tramway, the Company might require to split up one car into separate divisions for first and third class passengers respectively.
Recommendation 14 deals with a matter of punctuation only.
Recommendation 15, The Committee thought it desirable that specific provision should be made as to the charges for dogs.
Hongkong, 13th September, 1901.
(Sd.) H. R. Pollock,
Acting Attorney General, Chairman of Standing Law Committee.