- S 5-
II-TRANSPORTATION.
1.—Traffic.
15. Terminal through passenger traffic between Kowloon and Canton increased by 7.8%. Figures for the past three years are given below:-
1932 1933 1934 Terminal passengers (Up) 377,678 479,779 547,194 Terminal passengers (Down) 475,825 511,449 521,721 Total terminal passengers 853,503 991,228 1,068,915The density of through passenger traffic follows defined seasonal laws; it reaches its maximum in April on account of the Ching Ming Festival and then drops rapidly during the hot and humid summer months-May to September. This trend can be seen in Chart B, page 2. The improvement in 1934 is attributed to extensive advertising, the speeding up of the express services, the introduction of mid-day fast trains from the 1st October, and the appointment of additional Agents to sell tickets in new areas.
16. The most striking feature of the year was the development of terminal through goods traffic between Kowloon and Canton. Betterment to the extent of 66.9% occurred, the 1934 receipts being $30,680 as against $18,379 the previous year. If no reduction in the percentage share of receipts had been made during the last quarter of the year, the increase would have been 77.8%. The improvement, which is due to better co-operation with the Chinese Customs Authorities, to advertising activities and to direct canvassing, encourages the belief that still further increases will occur, especially on the resumption of normal trading conditions.
17. Local passenger receipts have fallen 8.1% from $704,183 to $647,056. Chart A, page 2, shows that the traffic peak was reached in December 1933 and that since May this year the reduced receipts have been maintained at a comparatively steady level. The major portion of this decrease was caused by a considerable reduction in the number of Shum Chun passengers. The attraction of the Casino at this border town has waned, due no doubt to the reduced spending power of potential visitors caused by the trade depression. As there is rail but no road access from British Territory to Shum Chun, the lessened activities of the Casino have been reflected in diminished Railway receipts. Road competition from public motor cars and lorries in the New Territories and a diminution in the number of golfers travelling by rail contributed to the decline in a minor degree.