29. The Tourist Traffic between Hongkong and Canton by rail is increasing each year. On January 17th, arrangements for carrying 400 Tourists from the S. S. Laconia were made, but unfortunately the military interference on the Chinese Section compelled the cancelling of these arrangements.
30. The S. S. Resolute arrived with Tourists on March 4th, the S. S. Empress of France on March 15th and the S. S. Samaria on April 2nd. A number of these tourists visited Canton by special trains and were highly appreciative of the service generally.
31. Tourists from the S. S. Resolute (198) and S. S. Empress of France (377) travelled both ways by train whilst those from the S. S. Samaria (336) made the journey one way by rail and the other by steamer.
32. Owing to the continual interruption and finally the suspension of through traffic, the demands on the Locomotive Department were light, and opportunity was taken to do a considerable amount of overhaul to the locomotives, carriages and goods wagons.
33. Main Line Locomotives Nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 and also two of the Fanling Branch engines were given a thorough overhaul. Stripping down of all gear, dismounting boilers and tanks, taking out wheels, turning up tyres and fitting new ones where necessary, repairing and fitting new axle boxes, turning up cylinders, and facing up steam chests, ports and slide valves.
34. No. 1 Locomotive was later involved in a serious accident on Mile 101 (referred to later) and therefore received a second overhaul when it was fitted with the Scarab Oil Burning Apparatus which is at present under test.
35. As the two new boilers on order did not arrive in time, the old boilers were repaired, new tubes fitted and the boilers replaced on their respective engines.
36. Seven carriages were given a general overhaul, and repainted and No. 21 and 28 First and Second Class Compo had the seating accommodation altered to equal seating on either side of the centre gangway.
37. No. 16 First and Second Compo was so damaged in the accident already referred to that all the bodywork had to be scrapped, the underframe stripped, new side members fitted, and the underframe rebuilt ready for new bodywork by the end of the year. All other coaches have received minor repairs.