CO129-453 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [1-3] — Page 357

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

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maintained by the Company, and other minor benefits accrue to

the Government.

12.

The amounts paid to the Government as Royalty by this

Company are as follows:-

1914 (part of year only)

1915

1916

1917

1918

2237.18. 4 £1,026.17. 1 £2, 371.13.10 £2,686, 3.11 £2,910.16. 6

13.

The relations between this Company and the Government

have always been most amicable, and it can be said that we have

endeavoured on all occasions to meet their wishes.

J

14.

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As an instance of the public spirit shown by the Com-

pany, I would mention that immediately on the outbreak of War all

Soldiers, Volunteers and Boy Scouts were allowed to travel on the

cars without payment, and the services of the Company were placed

at the disposal of the Military Authorities, special cars for

transportation of soldiers being supplied at any time on receipt

of telephone message, free of charge. The arrangement as to

travelling on ordinary service cars was in October 1914 altered

so that only men travelling on duty were allowed the privilege,

and this was again altered in September 1917 by allowing all

European members of the Naval and Military Forces to travel for

half fare whether on duty or not. There are no figures available

for the first two months of the War, but between October 1914 and

September 1917 the number of military passengers carried free

amounted to 222,696, and the number of special care provided with-

out charge totalled 598. Since September 1917 251,193 members of

the Military and Naval Forces have been carried for half fare.

15.

The Company further submit that it would be inequitable

to single out the Tramway Company amongst the Companies and con-

cerns carrying on services of public utility in the Colony and

deprive it of the natural opportunities of extending its services

by carrying out the extension to Kowloon under Government owner-

ship where a similar policy is not put in force in respect of

other public services operating in the Colony.

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