CO129-453 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [1-3] — Page 484

"

461

very high. The China and Japan Telephone Company which has a

monopoly of the public telephone service throughout the

Colony and New Territories not only pays well, but from time

to time applies to the Government to allow it to raise its

charges. Its service is by no means perfect. It would be to

the public advantage if all the above services were perform-

-ed under Government supervision, and I am strongly opposed

to perpetuating in the Kowloon peninsula the system of private monopolies for public services that exists in

Victoria.

4.

In Kowloon the only mears of transport at

present is by motor-car and jinrikisha, and with the rapid

extension of building and the construction of wide roads

North and South, and East and West, the question of provid-

-ing better transport facilities is becoming urgent. I en close a map on which are indicated the routes suitable for tram-lines. Proposals have been made from time to time to

introduce railless electric overhead transport, or motor

omnibuses, but after careful consideration of the subject

with the Director of Public Works I am convinced that on the

main routes shown tramways would be better. The roads are very wide, being one hundred feet over all with a roadway of at least seventy feet, and with two lines of rails there would remain ample room on either side for ordinary vehicular traffic. Motor omnibuses will have ample scope

both on these ronds and on the narrower roads, but could

never offer the same safe and rapid means of transport over long distances as a well equipped tram service.

5.

My proposal is that a system of tramways,

as shown on the accompanying plan, should be constructed and worked as a Goverment undertaking, and I shall be glad to learn whether this meets with Your Lordship's approval. In such event, I would cause the necessary plans and

sections