CO129-342 - Governor Lugard & Public Offices - 1907 [11-12] — Page 313

MEMO ON TRAFFIC WHICH MAY BE EXPECTED

ON THE BRITISH SECTION

OF

KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY.

309

The passenger traffic between Hong Kong and Canton

by steamer is at present about 2250 each way per day.

The rates at which these are carried are very small,

the lowest rate for 3rd class passengers at present

is 35 cents for the trip, this rate rises to 50 or

60 cents on some steamers depending on whether the

hoat is a day or night one. Those running at night

being the cheaper.

It would be impossible for the Railway to ru

passengers at rates under 60 cents for the trip, so

some inducement must be held out in order to entice

these passengers who are by far the largest class.

Pace is the only thing which may draw them to

the Railway and probably some may be induced to travel

by rail on this account.

Sir Matthew Nathan has put it forward that the

receipte should be divided in proportion to the

capital cost of the British and Chinese Sections

respectively which is in the ratio of three for the

Pritish Section and five for the Chinese, the mileage

being in the ratio or about one to five.

eas

This system of division of earnings would be

absolutely impossible for this class of passenger and

I will take the following example to show it.

Supposing

a coolie passenger were charged 80 cents for a journey

between Hong Kong and Canton. If this 80 cents were

divided