Appendix S.
KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY.
(British Section).
ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1929.
GENERAL AND TRAFFIC.
1. The most significant features in the Report for 1929 are those of net revenue which amounted to $138,767.19 notwithstanding the general depression of trade in the Colony and South China, and a further reduction in the Capital Account of $143,507.99.
2. Through Traffic.-During the first four months of the year, through traffic increased steadily and promised well for a very successful year. In May, however, these anticipations received a check, as all through traffic with Canton was suspended from the 8th to the 26th owing to damage caused to an important bridge on the Chinese Section at a point 34 miles from Canton, through an attempt to blow it up, which destroyed a pivot bearing of one of the three 100-foot steel spans.
3. Through traffic to Canton was again suspended from the 13th December to the end of the year by the serious damage to another important bridge on the Chinese Section at 33 miles from Canton, when the abutting ends of two of the three 60-foot steel spans were destroyed by explosives.
4. On the following day, two of the three 15-foot steel spans of a third bridge at 26 miles from Canton were blown up and one of the masonry piers seriously damaged.
5. In all instances while permanent repairs were arranged for, the running of through trains was resumed over temporary repairs carried out by the engineering staff of the Chinese Section with commendable promptitude.
6. These interruptions to through traffic caused a serious loss to both the Chinese and British Sections, for during the suspensions the through traffic naturally reverted to the River boats as the only other means of transport between Canton and Hong Kong, with the consequence that on the resumption of the rail service, a large proportion of the regular rail traffic was lost for several months, as is clearly indicated by the following figures which give the numbers of passengers carried by the through express trains for each month of the last two years :-