Page 635
Chief Resident Engineer's Office,
Kowloon,
dated 15th June, 1907.
***
To The Honourable
The Colonial Secretary.
Sir,
Estimates.
In reply to the minute dated 14th instant of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government on the subject of Traffic to Shek Lung, I am sure that most of the passengers at present travelling between Hongkong and Shek Lung are counted in the Canton Passengers.
I do not quite understand about the three boats that are stated to run between Hongkong and She Lung direct in 1904. These are probably sailing junks and would probably carry only those passengers to whom time was no object and who therefore would not travel on the Railway.
When going into the question of private sidings with the Secretary of the Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company, he informed me that most of the yarn exported goes to Shek Lung, sometimes the consignments being as heavy as 250 to 300 tons. I should think that the Railway to Shek Lung would beat the junks for this trade, but I do not think it wise to add anything more to the Estimate for this traffic. It would be contained in the 200 tons per day allowed for as through to Canton.
I have etc.,
(Sgd.) G. H. Ives,
Chief Resident Engineer.
No. 813/1907.
COPY.
Page 636