30. Combined road and rail tickets between Kowloon, Yau-mati and Sha Tau Kok were introduced on the 1st July. Buses owned by the Kowloon Motor Bus Company perform the road part of the journey between Fanling and Sha Tau Kok. Fares for both services were reduced approximately 10% to combat public motor car competition which had affected the receipts of both the contracting parties. Railway earnings from this source have increased steadily from $271.15 in July to $533.55 in December.
31. Various attempts to stimulate local goods traffic were made during the year, culminating in the trial of a flat rate of 3 cents per ton mile for car-loads and 4 cents per ton mile for ordinary loads. The results obtained from these experimental rates indicated clearly that convenience and not cost was the principal factor governing movement. The practical cessation of building activities in the Colony undoubtedly contributed to this effect, as many contractors' lorries became available for ordinary "door to door" transportation.
32. During the months of July and August the proprietors of the Tai Po-Sha U Chung launch service, on the advice of the Railway Administration, reduced temporarily their fares from 55 cents to 30 cents. This was done with a view to ascertaining the potentialities of the service in tapping areas more remote from Sha U Chung from which all traffic had been lost on account of the development of road services. It was found that the drastic reduction in fares increased the number of passengers leaving Tai Po by 7%, but failed to stimulate traffic from Sha U Chung. Due to the results obtained from this experiment and to the fact that the launch was running at a loss, fares were increased from 55 cents to 70 cents during the month of September. The decline of traffic from this source affected Tai Po railway receipts, but this loss was offset by the transference of the rail connection to Ping Wu on the Chinese Section.
33. In an endeavour to prevent misuse, the price of platform tickets at Kowloon Station was raised from 5 to 10 cents on the 5th June. Contrary to expectations, this increase resulted in a large gain in revenue as the following figures show:-
Average No. of tickets sold per month to end of May. Average Revenue per month. Average No. of tickets sold per month June to December. Average Revenue per month. 4,985 $249.00 8,105 $812.00It is feared that the large increase in the number of people entering the platforms is due to regular smuggling runners endeavouring to carry dutiable articles through the Customs to passengers on the trains.
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30. Combined road and rail tickets between Kowloon, Yau- mati and Sha Tau Kok were introduced on the 1st July. Buses owned by the Kowloon Motor Bus Company perform the road part of the journey between Fanling and Sha Tau Kok. Fares for both services were reduced approximately 10% to combat public motor car competition which had affected the receipts of both the contracting parties. Railway earnings from this source have increased steadily from $271.15 in July to $533.55 in December.
31. Various attempts to stimulate local goods traffic were made during the year, culminating in the trial of a flat rate of 3 cents per ton mile for car-loads and 4 cents per ton mile for ordinary loads. The results obtained from these experimental rates indicated clearly that convenience and not cost was the principal factor governing movement. The practical cessation of building activities in the Colony undoubtedly contributed to this effect, as many contractors' lorries became available for ordinary "door to door" transportation.
32. During the months of July and August the proprietors of the Taipo-Sha U Chung launch service, on the advice of the Railway Administration, reduced temporarily their fares from 55 cents to 30 cents. This was done with a view to ascertaining the potentialities of the service in tapping areas more remote from Sha U Chung from which all traffic had been lost on account of the development of road services. It was found that the drastic reduction in fares increased the number of passengers leaving Taipo by 7%, but failed to stimu- late traffic from Sha U Chung. Due to the results obtained from this experiment and to the fact that the launch was running at a loss, fares were increased from 55 cents to 70 cents during the month of September. The decline of traffic from this source affected Taipo railway receipts, but this loss was offset by the transference of the rail connection to Ping Wu on the Chinese Section.
33. In an endeavour to prevent misuse, the price of plat- form tickets at Kowloon Station was raised from 5 to 10 cents on the 5th June. Contrary to expectations, this increase resulted in a large gain in revenue as the following figures show:- Average No. of tickets sold per month to end of May.
Average Revenue per
Average No. of
tickets sold per
Average Revenue per
month.
month.
month June to December.
4,985
$249.00
8,105
$812.00
It is feared that the large increase in the number of people entering the platforms is due to regular smuggling runners endeavouring to carry dutiable articles through the Customs to passengers on the trains.
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