S 12
Staff killed on duty
1
Staff injured on duty
5
The number of derailments increased from 4 in 1937 to 14, but these were all of a minor nature and may be attributed to the enormous increase in the amount of shunting work performed in Kowloon Station and Yard.
44. The purchase of the two small shunting engines in November 1937 proved to be a wise investment. The large increase in shunting necessitated the continual use of these locomotives, and their ability to perform work at greatly reduced cost resulted in a saving in coal alone of 593 tons, or $13,010. This represents a 62% return on the capital outlay.
45. The second-hand 5-ton, 4' 8" gauge, steam crane purchased last year for the sum of $10,000 assisted materially in speeding up the loading of cargo at Kowloon. The net revenue earned by this crane during the year was $12,544.15. The 65-ton crane was also in demand, the net revenue accruing from its use amounting to $17,346.12.
4. General.
46. A request was received from the China Travel Service for office accommodation at Kowloon Station for the purpose of dealing with the large imports of wood oil for which they were responsible. Great difficulty had been experienced in finding consignees, owing to the system of hypothecation of invoices to Chinese Banks following instructions issued by the Chinese Government relating to foreign exchange certificates, and it was felt that anything the China Travel Service were prepared to do to assist in relieving wagon congestion should be encouraged. An office was erected for them, therefore, on the verandah at Kowloon Station and opened on August 18th.
47. The stock of British Section wagons was inadequate to deal with the amount of traffic offering, and efforts were made to augment it. The Chinese Ministry of Communications was approached to see if it was willing to assemble twenty 40-ton covered goods wagons, the material for which was lying in the locomotive works at Hung Hom, and to hire them out to this Section. The proposal was unacceptable, but an agreement was eventually reached under which the twenty wagons were purchased at cost price.
48. In order to relieve congestion at Kowloon Station and speed up loading, a special siding 1,607 feet in length was put in alongside the praya wall north of Blackheads. This siding was first used on April 20th and afforded considerable relief.
49. The Japanese occupation of Canton and the subsequent military operations in Chinese territory near the British frontier, resulted in a large influx of refugees. The Government endeavoured to feed and house temporarily as many of these refugees as possible, and all spare railway covered wagons were utilized to assist in this work. Three railway camps were established, two in sidings at Fanling and one at Gills Cutting. Special trains were run to place the wagons in position, and welfare workers organised by the Emergency Refugee Council were conveyed free of charge to and from these camps.
50. There were 22 prosecutions during the year, all being convicted. Thieving was rampant due to the high price of scrap metal, and the large number of destitute refugees. Particulars of the prosecutions are subjoined:-
Travelling without tickets 1 Trespass 3 Theft 18 22S 12
Staff killed on duty
1
Staff injured on duty
5
The number of derailments increased from 4 in 1937 to 14, but these were all of a minor nature and may be attributed to the enormous increase in the amount of shunting work performed in Kowloon Station and Yard.
44. The purchase of the two small shunting engines in November 1937 proved to be a wise investment. The large increase in shunting necessitated the continual use of these locomotives, and their ability to perform work at greatly reduced cost resulted in a saving in coal alone of 593 tons, or $13,010. This represents a 62% return on the capital outlay.
45. The second-hand 5-ton, 4' 8" gauge, steam crane purchased last year for the sum of $10,000 assisted materially in speeding up the loading of cargo at Kowloon. The net revenue earned by this crane during the year was $12,544.15. The 65-ton crane was also in demand, the net revenue accruing from its use amounting to $17,346.12.
4. General.
46. A request was received from the China Travel Service for office accom- modation at Kowloon Station for the purpose of dealing with the large imports of wood oil for which they were responsible. Great difficulty had been experienced in finding consignees, owing to the system of hypothecation of invoices to Chinese Banks following instructions issued by the Chinese Government relating to foreign exchange certificates, and it was felt that anything the China Travel Service were prepared to do to assist in relieving wagon congestion should be encouraged. An office was erected for them, therefore, on the verandah at Kowloon Station and opened on August 18th.
47. (The stock of British Section wagons was inadequate to deal with the amount of traffic offering, and efforts were made to augment it. The Chinese Ministry of Communications was approached to see if it was willing to assemble twenty 40-ton covered goods wagons, the material for which was lying in the locomotive works at Hung Hom, and to hire them out to this Section. The pro- posal was unacceptable, but an agreement was eventually reached under which the twenty wagons were purchased at cost price)
48. In order to relieve congestion at Kowloon Station and speed up loading, a special siding 1,607 feet in length was put in alongside the praya wall north of Blackheads. This siding was first used on April 20th and afforded considerable relief.
49. The Japanese occupation of Canton and the subsequent military operations in Chinese territory near the British frontier, resulted in a large influx of refugees. The Government endeavoured to feed and house temporarily as many of these refugees as possible, and all spare railway covered wagons were utilized to assist in this work. Three railway camps were established, two in sidings at Fanling and one at Gills Cutting. Special trains were run to place the wagons in position, and welfare workers organised by the Emergency Refugee Council were conveyed free of charge to and from these camps.)
50. There
were 22 prosecutions during the year? all being convicted. Thieving was rampant due to the high price of scrap metal, and the large number of destitute refugees). Particulars of the prosecutions are subjoined:-
Travelling without tickets
Trespass Theft
1
3
18
22
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