-
84
-
Letter Number 6.
SIR,
DEACONS,
1, DES VEUX ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 18th April, 1935.
Re CHINA MOTOR BUS CO., LTD.
We have the honour to refer to your letter of the 15th instant and to say that our clients, The Hong Kong Tramways, Limited, appreciate the sentiments therein expressed.
There is one important matter, however, on which we are now instructed to approach you.
Clause 7 (2) of No. S.319 of September 2nd, 1932, provides for a head- way between buses of not more than the intervals referred to in the relevant Schedule. Hence the China Motor Bus Company may feel free to put on the road an indefinite number of buses.
Clause 8 however gives the Governor-in-Council power (inter alia) to curtail the routes set out in the relevant schedule or to require the licensee to maintain such substituted services as the Governor-in-Council considers necessary.
Thus the Governor-in-Council in spite of Clause 7 (2) has power to restrict the number of buses on routes Nos. 1, 2 and 5 to the intervals of 10, 30 and 5 minutes respectively and we are instructed to enquire whether Government will exercise this power and continue to exercise it at least until our clients' Memorial to the Secretary of State has been considered. Already the equivalent of a four-minutes bus service is being operated on route No. 5 and there are persistent rumours that the China Motor Bus Company intends to order, immediately, an additional 26 buses with the object of operating still more intensive services on Routes served by our clients.
We trust that this letter may be regarded as very urgent.
We have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servants,
!
THE HONOURABLE COLONIAL SECRETARY,
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONG KONG.
(sd.) DEACONS.