S 3
18. The Revenue Statements of Earnings and Expenditure follow the line previously adopted. The actual Expenditure amounted to $356,221.07 against an estimate of $392,335.00, showing a saving of $36,113.93.
The savings under Personal Emoluments amounted to $15,774.92 partly due to members of the staff serving with His Majesty's Forces, and also to a smaller extent to a higher rate of exchange prevailing than was anticipated when the Estimates were framed. The savings under the various sub-heads of Other Charges amounted to $20,339.01. Of this, $14,922.79 is due to the Railway being able to obtain coal at a cheaper rate than was estimated. There is also a sum of $3,890.68 lapsing under Running Stores, Oil, as the prices paid were less than anticipated.
The Working Expenses for the year are somewhat higher than in 1917. It will be observed on reference to the figures that the locomotive expenses are mainly responsible for this, the percentage on gross receipts being 47.25 as against 43.89 for the previous year.
This additional expenditure is due to an advance in the price of coal and to a smaller extent to a slight increase in the consumption owing to heavier trains.
19. The Local Passenger Traffic has somewhat improved, the receipts being $132,353.37 against $119,397.09 or $12,956.28 more than the previous year, while the Local Goods Traffic has also increased from $9,985.88 to $10,761.46. The Sundry Receipts amounted to $2,118.04 less than 1917.
20. Through and Joint Sectional Traffic Receipts amounted to $265,694.78 against $270,882.21 for the previous year. This small decrease is partly due to a slight fall in the amount of goods traffic and partly to the suspension of through traffic previously mentioned.
21. The Gross Receipts for the year were $433,274.43 as against $428,246.46 for 1917 an increase of $5,027.97. The balance after paying working expenses stands at $77,053.36.
22. The Through and Joint Sectional Passengers carried were as follows:-
1916 1917 1918 Passengers booked by Stations in British Territory to Stations in China 307,310 309,394 307,494 Passengers booked by Stations in China to Stations in British Territory 344,220 352,008 323,642The Local Passengers carried were as follows
1916 1917 1918 Main Line 277,800 277,968 296,379 Fanling Branch Line... 67,608 55,211 45,187