31
steamboat traffic entirely ceased, caused record Passenger and Goods traffic by rail. Except that the drivers and firemen were persuaded to join the strikers a day before the settlement, the Railway staff remained loyal and handled unprecedented traffic in a commendable manner. The express trains had to be run in duplicate or were doubled-banked. In the latter case they consisted of as many as 23 coaches. It was found generally preferable to run in duplicate, each portion consisting of from 10 to 12 coaches. As many as 2,000 passengers were carried on one portion, and over 8,000 in a day.
The increased earnings of this period were somewhat reduced by a period of partial stagnation after the strike, by the launchmen's strike in May, and by the frequent train suspensions owing to political unrest in Canton and neighbourhood. Much inconvenience and loss was caused by resultant military operations between Sun Yat-sen and Chan Kwing-ming. On five occasions bridges on the Chinese Section of the line were damaged by explosives in attempts to prevent movements of troops. During this political unrest robber bands were as usual active along the part of the line in the Chinese Territory.
On two occasions the launch which plies between Taipo in British Territory and Sha U Chung in Chinese Territory was pirated.
During the visit of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in April, the Kowloon Railway Station was dressed with flags and buntings, and the building and clock tower facing the harbour fronts, including the goodshed, was picked out in red electric lights on the night of the 6th and 7th.
The Gross Receipts for the year were $710,295.75 as against $603,980.77 for 1921, an increase of $106,314.98. The balance after paying working expenses stands at $148,151.40.
The Through and Joint Sectional Passengers carried were as follows:-
1920 1921 1922 Passengers booked by Stations in British Territory to Stations in China 365,665 435,933 526,111 Passengers booked by Stations in China to Stations in British Territory 373,776 462,379 522,909The Local Passengers carried were as follows:—
1920 1921 1922 Main line 392,206 429,133 639,709 Fanling Branch 47,787 43,733 52,431