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(b) Clearance by Rail.
( 64 )
(i) Only one berth in the entire Colony is rail served
namely, No. 1 Berth at Holt's Whraf.
(ii) Until recently, clearance by this means was extre- mely limited due to lack of rolling stock and only a single line linking up with the main line.
(iii) A considerable improvement has been effected by the construction of a loop line and spurs, and the
arrival of rolling stock.
(iv) Estimated present clearance by rail from Kowloon
to Canton, is approximately 300 tons per day.
(c) Clearance by Inland Water Transport.
(i) Lighters and junks are in short supply, but towing
craft is almost sufficient under the present
circumstances.
(ii) With completion of assembly of Phoenix Nesting
barges and Ministry of War Transport lighters,
the position will be greatly improved, and demands have been placed for further towing craft to meet
the additional commitment which will result.
(iii) Trans-harbour traffic in Feb. 46 by Inland Water
Transport craft was as follows:-
Total tonnage handled
1
personnel carried
5440 Tons.
3020
>>
vehicles
20
"
ponies
46
"
4.
( 65 )
Future Development.
(a) It is believed that supply of M.T. will very shortly meet
all requirements for docks clearance.
(b) With the assembly of two shipments of rolling stock, and
arrival of two 80-ton locomotives for the British Section
of the Kowloon-Canton Railway, clearance by rail will be
considerably increased in tonnage and an accelerated
service will come into force.
(c) Port clearance will be very much improved when the 22 Phoenix Nesting barges and 100 Ministry of War Trans- port lighters are assembled. This will also have the effect of reducing the present exorbitant charges for hire of junks. However, 50 more lighters will still be required and orders have been placed accordingly. Clearance by sea to Canton was an important pre-war feature of port clearance, but lack of craft at present does not allow of development. Request for the necessary number and types of craft has already been made to the Colonial
Office.
(d) Estimated total port capacity, and therefore clearance,
for Apr. 46 is as follows:-
-
(i) Imports, 4000 tons, exports, 3000 tons, per day.
(ii) Additional to above, coal, 3500 tons per day.
(iii) Additional to (i). Imports above, 100 vehicles per
day.
(iv) Port carry-over, 20,000 tons, in any one month.
79