18 —
City and Hill District, and in Kowloon. Various and considerable extensions of sewers, in connection with new building lots, were carried out in Hongkong and Kowloon.
The steel pier in connection with the Repairing and Coaling Depôt for Government Launches at Yaumati, referred to in last year's Report, was erected and a slipway cradle was constructed. The electric capstan for operating the cradle had not however arrived from England by the close of the year.
The dredging to a depth of 30 feet at the lowest tides alongside the new pier erected by the Ilongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company and of the approaches to it were completed during the year.
The work of providing scavenging lanes was continued, com- pensation haing paid where necessary.
Progress continues to be made with the Shamshuipo Improve- ment Scheme, which involves the entire demolition of the old village and the erection of new houses and other buildings good, wide
ronde.
The construction of the additional service reservoir and filter beds for the supply of the western section of the City was proceeded with, substantial progress being made with the work.
The additional filter bed in connection with the Kowloon Water Works was completed, making four beds in all.
The total amount expended on Public Works Extraordinary was $1,247,623.89* and on Annually Recurrent Works $030,187.68.†
Bailey.
The new Terminal Passenger Station at Kowloon, which was commenced on March 1st, 1914, was completed and opened to the public on March 28th, and the commodious accommodation now provided is much appreciated by the travelling public and the staff alike. The railway offices on the first floor were occupied about one month later and, after the disadvantages experienced during the occupation of temporary offices and makeshift buildings, proved a boon to organisation and regular work.
The temporary offices and station were demolished during the year, and the large area in front of the building was curbed and surfaced by the Public Works Department,
During the year the Extension to the Bocomotive Yard, which included the laying of about 2,430 yarıls of new track and 18 seta of crossings, was completed, as also the Extension of the Locomotive Sbed by 112 feet. The completion of the new Baning hed, 50 feet by 30 feet, mentioned in my last year's report, was however, delayed by the difficulty in poblaining possession of a sufall lot off
* A sua of $752.14 was credited to one of the sub-heade, thus making the ex-
penuliture appear as $1,246,871 75.
* A sum of $5,315.17 war credited to one of the sub-bends, thus making the ex-
penditure appear as $824,872,51.
19-
house property standing on thosite. As the original mofing ordered for these two buildings was unobtainable, and the asbestos-cement corrugated roofing sent out from England as a substitute proved to be totally unsuitable to the requirements of this country, it was decided to construct the Running Shed in reinforced concrete and brickwork, roofed with Marseilles tiles, while a reinforced concrete roof was adapted to the/Locomotive Shed Extension.
In February, the tramway system was adopted on the Fanling Branch Line, seven new halts were made and a two cent fare charged between each. This has so far proved a success and seems to be appreciated as the earnings of the line shew an increase of $3,923.17 over the previous year, the number of passengers carried being 67,608 as against 47,928 in 1915.
One first class restaurant car was completed by the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company and placed in service during April, but owing to late delivery from England of the fittings, the work on the first and second class composite carriage had to be suspended for several months. These fittings have now arrived and the coach will be completed and available for service early in 1917,
The estimated Capital Expenditure for the year was $386,198 but, owing to the delay in the delivery of materials from England, only $209,388.74 of this sum was required and after the deduction of $10,670.25 received by sales of old construction plant and materials, the year's expenditure amounted to $198,718.49.
The Construction Cost of the Main Line to end of the year now stand at $14,710,917.29 and of the Fanling Branch at $80,808.57.
The Working Expenses amounted to $296,691,63 or $574,34 less than the previous year and when compared with ross Receipts show a decrease the percentage being 81.02 against 8647 for. 1915.
The Revenue derived from Local Traffic amounted to $141,799.41 or $12,704,58 more than in 1915 and the Earnings of Through and Joint Sectional Trafic $213,441.04 against $207,622.20 for 1915. Fauling Branch Receipts increased from $7,052.05 to $10,975.22.
The Excess of Earnings over Expenditure for 1916 was $69,521.04an increase of $23,020:93 when compared with the previous year.
Passengers booked by Stations in British
Territory to Stations in China, Passengers booked by Stations in China to
Stations in British Territory, Passengers travelling on the British Sec-
tion, Main Line.
Passengers travelling on the British Sec-
tion, Fanling Branch,
1915, 1916.
271,382 307,310
326,839 344,220)
257,650 277,800
47,928 07,608
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