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British river steamers shewed an increase of 608 vessels, but decreased by 50,694 tons. Foreign river steamers shewed an increase of 226 vessels and 112,956 tons. Steamships not exceeding 60 tons, in foreign trade, shewed a decrease of 625 vessels and 16,087 tons.
Junks in foreign trade shewed a decrease of 1,277 vessels and 343,589 tons.
In local trade, steamlaunches shewed an increase of 5,775 vessels and 151,151 tons, and junks shewed an increase of 2,500 vessels and 88,026 tons.
AVIATION.
[Please see also Chapter XI. of the 1938 Report.]
Hong Kong Airport is situated at Kai Tak, and has facilities for marine and land aircraft.
The slight decrease in traffic for 1939 as compared with statistics for 1938 is due mainly to (1) the Japanese occupation of Canton and Hankow in December 1938 and the subsequent reduction of the daily schedules, (2) suspension of the all-up mail and temporary dislocation of Empire route services through the outbreak of hostilities in Europe. Since the Japanese occupied Hankow and the neighbouring territory, the services to Chungking have been reduced and the flights undertaken by night. The suspension of the all-up mail service has resulted in a big drop in mail figures as well as a curtailment in the schedules of Imperial Airways.
RAILWAY.
Throughout the year 1939, the British Section reverted to a position as regards its functions not experienced since its infancy when all through running was suspended for long periods and the line was worked to the British border only. The current year, however, differs from those earlier years by reason of the fact that the border has been closed since August 16th owing to the presence of Japanese troops. This closure has resulted in marked increases in passenger journeys to and from Taipo and Fanling, the former station affording alternative communication with China via the Sha U Chung launch, and the latter via the Sha Tau Kok road-bus. This local expansion has failed to compensate for losses sustained at the frontier, on account of the very much shorter hauls involved and the decreased numbers travelling.
The local passenger journeys were 1,917,603 which is an all-time record, eclipsing by 403,623 the previous record attained during 1933. For reasons given in the above paragraph, however, the receipts from this source were only $660,698 compared with the 1933 peak of $704,183. In this connection it is worthy of record that the year opened auspiciously, the earnings during the first three months amounting to $209,068 which is the highest figure ever reached in any one quarter.
Receipts and net operating revenue were $911,046.87 and $128,613.38 respectively, as against $1,901,883.32 and $932,418.48 the previous year.
Operating expenditure was $782,433.49 compared with $969,464.84 in 1938.
In consonance with the complete suspension of through running, the operating ratio has depreciated from 50.97 to 85.88 per cent.
As a corollary to the growth of passenger traffic, local goods receipts rose from $28,193.15 to $40,645.96, or 44.17%.
The value of the rail-bus shuttle service between Taipo Market and Fanling continues to demonstrate itself. Although the receipts from this source alone are only 15.48% higher than last year, yet the normal passenger train bookings between these two points have shown a further increase of 92.34% over the figures for 1938.