498
S 4
24. A slip of weathered rock occurred in No. 5 tunnel at Taipo, which necessitated the building of a length of sidewall in brickwork to support the arch.
25. The border bridge No. 49, at Shum Chun was repainted, and various other bridges resleepered.
26. About 1,000 feet of concrete side channelling was relaid at Mile 16, and part of the feeder channel to the water tank at Taipo, reconstructed in cement concrete,
27. Electric Light was installed at Taipo, Taipo Market and Fanling Stations, the remaining oil lighted Stations of Shatin and Sheung Shui being too far from the new mains of the China Light & Power Co. to admit of economical connection.
28. The Electrical Sub-department of the Public Works Department carried out the above installations as also the rewiring internally of the Workshops and a new underground cable connection.
29. A 6-inch water pipe and a power cable, from the Peninsula Hotel at Kowloon to a pump house on the railway sea wall were laid under Kowloon Station Yard, partly by the Railway and partly by the Hotel. A 5-inch water main was laid under the tracks at Taipo Market Station by the Public Works Department.
30. The number of sleeper renewals was 5,278, of these 5,000 were "Timeproof" concrete sleepers, 66 ordinary wooden sleepers and 212 bridge and crossing timbers.
31. Twenty lengths of worn crossings.
rails were renewed and 3
32. Permission was granted to the China Light & Power Co. in December to run a second high tension cable through Beacon Hill Tunnel.
-
$ 5
34. On May 6th an extra train was put on leaving Kowloon at 1.36 p.m. on Saturdays and returning from Canton at 6.10 p.m. on Sundays and so popular did it become, more particularly on the up journey, that with a revised timetable in September in compliance with a wish from the Canton public a further train was added leaving there at 12.55 p.m. on both Saturdays and Sundays, and the up time of departure was altered to 12.43 p.m.
35. The above facts have been enlarged on as the present service absorbs all the available stock of both Sections and until such time as more stock is purchased a third or mid-day express which is urgently needed is impossible of accomplish-
ment.
36. The net revenue for the year clearly indicates the possibilities which may be expected to result from further expansion as saturation point has by no means been reached, and is not likely to be for many years in view of the manner in which the province of Kwang Tung is being opened up by roads connecting with the Railway.
for
37. The reduction in traffic expenses gives cause satisfaction but the long hours of duty in certain cases became a matter of concern and sanction was obtained in the current year's Estimates to engage one extra guard, one brakesman, and two ticket collectors.
38. Every effort was made in the direction of economy as indicated by the following figures:-
Percentage of Traffic and Running Expenses to total Revenue.
1932.
1933.
Traffic Expenses Running Expenses
8.38%
6.29%
.24.89%
16.23%
499
TRAFFIC.
33. The excellent results shewn in the annual report for 1932 were doubled during 1933 and are directly attributable, to the activities of the border town of Shum Chun and to the reduced time of the journey to Canton. The timetable reducing the time of the through journey was introduced in November, 1932, and it was therefore possible to take full advantage of the improved service over a full year.
whilst the percentage of total operating expenditure to Revenue was 56.39% as compared with 74.27% in 1932.
39. The road motor competition between Taipo Market and Sheung Shui referred to in paragraph 28 of the 1932 report caused little or no damage to railway revenue since the passengers discovered that it was not so easy to find room for poultry and vegetables in the buses as in railway coaches, and furthermore that their presence with bundles was discouraged.
40. Facilities afforded the Agricultural Show Association were confined to the conveyance of agricultural produce free. The farmers have shown no reciprocity by conveying their produce to Kowloon by rail and it was felt that the Railway could no longer afford to give facilities for which there was no
return.