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drop grates or rocking bars when conversion to coal from oil fuel was carried out at Woolwich-with the result that re- conversion to oil burning has had to be resorted to. No machine tools were supplied and the supply situation was becoming so serious that a visit by the General Manager and the Mechanical Engineer to the United Kingdom sanctioned. They left the Colony on 28th. July 1946, and returned on 11th. September 1946. Orders totalling H.K. $21,678,240 were placed for rolling stock and plant, and at the close of the year small quantities of stores commencing to arrive.
5.
was
were
While no rolling stock was available for the Colony, large quantities of UNRRA wagon material in a knocked-down condition commenced to arrive in the Port during Jan. 1946, and altogether 1261 wagons of various types were assembled by contract under the supervision of the British Section's Mechanical Staff. The assembly enabled CNRRA food, supplies and vitally needed rail materials to be moved up into the interior. Rails and sleepers loaded at Kowloon in these wagons materially assisted the completion of the Canton- Hankow Line between Canton and Wuchang on 1st. July 1946, the date stipulated by Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek for its restoration.
6. The question of the accounts for the period of the Report has placed the Department in a dilemma. To submit a Report without a statement of accounts is to make the report practically valueless, yet for reasons entirely beyond its control the operating expenditure figure can only be approximate owing to non-inclusion of certain debits. The outstanding items are not numerous and are unlikely to affect materially the results as shown. After discussion with officials of the Hong Kong Treasury to which this Department's accounts are tied, it was decided to present an operating and capital account at the same time drawing attention to the fact that the expenditure figure given in the former cannot at this stage be reconciled with the Treasury. The principle is one which has been adopted by private firms in the Colony to form a working basis, and is considered to be the only method by which this Public Utility could present the Hong Kong taxpayer with a current picture of its working results. Subject to the foregoing remarks regarding the incomplete figure as to working outlay the accounts show that there was a balance of receipts over expenditure amounting to $2,205,311.30 or 99.05%.
7. Since the re-occupation of the Colony, Joint Traffic Working between the two Sections of the Line has been carried on by adhering as closely as possible, so far as changed circumstances would permit, to the basis of the former Working Agreement. Towards the close of the year, the
new
Canton-Hankow Line expressed their wish to have a Working Agreement, and a draft was submitted for their consideration.
8.
The coal supply has had to be carefully watched to secure correct deliveries with such great temptation to theft. Costs have never been lower than $110.00 per ton, the usual figure being about $145.00 loaded to locomotive, and the quality has varied enormously. Japanese, American, North Borneo and South African coals have been received and the Indian, North Borneo and South African coals have given the best results. The South African supply has been particularly good and conforms to the pre-war state of affairs when these coals always proved to be amongst the most satisfactory and economical. Fuel oil, at prices varying from $113.60 to $145.00 per ton, has proved economical when compared with coal giving a saving estimated at 30%. The figures in the statistical statement give a still better result, but they are not truly comparable owing to the difference in consumption between local trips and through running. The re-conversion therefore from coal to oil-burning of four 2-8-0 Austerity Locomotives although forced on the Administration by circum- stances, has proved beneficial in effecting economy and conserving coal stocks.
9. A disagreeable feature of the acute shortage in passenger accommodation on trains has been the flourishing black market in the sale of tickets which included on one occasion a sale of forgeries. Every effort has been made to combat the practice and police prosecutions have been many and the fines It is hoped heavy, but the practice has not altogether ceased. that, with the provision of new booking office facilities in the New Year and repaired rolling stock, the situation will be brought under proper control.
10.
The repairs carried out to the Beacon Hill and Taipo Tunnels necessitated by the original demolitions prior to the surrender of Hong Kong, caused some anxiety during the course of their reconstruction. The work had to be done at night with a minimum of suitable tools and on two occasions in the former tunnel large falls occurred, fortunately without loss of life, but which caused delays to the morning trains. essential that repair work should be completed before the next rains, as the shoring provided by the Japanese was proving dangerous due to dry rot and would not last over a further rainy season. Both tunnels were finished by the end of the year, except for minor grouting in the Beacon Hill Tunnel.
It was
11. It was the custom for many years prior to the war, for most merchants to employ their own coolies for loading and unloading cargo at Kowloon. A railway contractor provided coolies when requested to do so at a scale laid down by the
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