50. His Excellency, the Governor, and Lady Caldecott, visited Canton on September 17th and travelled in the British Section saloon attached to the 8.25 a.m. "Flying Arrow" express. They returned on September 19th by the "Flying Eagle".
51. The various agencies continue to render excellent service. Their ticket sales for the past two years are summarised below:-
No. of tickets sold. 1935 1936 Daily Average. 1935 1936 Wing On Company 76,154 89,177 209 244 China Travel Service 64,720 77,845 177 213 China Emporium, Ltd. 36,559 54,362 100 148 Thomas Cook & Son Ltd. 1,039 1,021 3 3 American Express 89 304 1 1 Travel Advisers 128 Total 178,561 222,837 489 60952. The reduction in the sale of platform tickets tends to confirm that smuggling has declined, as this type of ticket is sometimes used to obtain access to the platform in an endeavour to evade payment of Customs dues. Comparative figures are supplied below:--
Tickets sold Revenue 1935 114,585 $11,458.50 1936 103,680 $10,368.0053. There were only six prosecutions to record for the whole year. All were convicted:
Trespass and assaults 1 Trespass and damage to railway property... 1 Trespass .... 2 Theft 2 Total 654. Discussions with the Chinese National Customs which have been held during the latter part of the year are likely to lead to greater facilities being afforded consignors. The suggested amendments involve an extension of the hours during which examination can be performed, and the complete separation of the goods examining staff from those engaged on work in connection with passengers at Kowloon Station. Goods traffic has suffered to some extent in the past by the necessity for officers engaged in such examination being withdrawn to deal with passengers. The improvements are expected to come into force early in 1937.