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Enclosure 1.
584
New Territories to Hongkong and Taipo, and that the Shat'aukok
to Sham Chun traffic which now goes via Lo-fong would all
travel by this branch line. I enclose a minute by Mr. Ross,
dated the 3rd. of last January, giving the result of a count
made by his direction of the number of passengers between
Shat'aukok and Sham Chun via Lo-fong (a) on ordinary days:
(b) on days when there is a market at Shat'aukok: and (c) on
days when there is a market at Sham Chun. Mr. Lindsey thinks
that these figures are very encouraging and that it will be
possible to quote fares which will divert this traffic to the
branch-railway thereby securing also an increase in the traffic
on the main-line between Fan-ling and Sham Chun.
5.
With regard to the expenditure involved,
I enclose copy of 3 tables prepared by Mr. Lindsey, dated the
7th. of last December, from which you will see that he
estimates the cost of widening the road from Fan-ling to Shat'-
-aukok to 14 feet at $18,950. Mr. W. Chatham informs me that
this estimate is based upon the prices paid for work already
done on the road and ought to suffice. It is estimated that the
work can be completed in 6 months, and I propose that this sum
should be a charge upon the vote for Public Works Extraordinary
In addition to this, material to the value of 840,955 belong-
-ing to the main-line will be utilized in constructing and equipping
mclosure 2.