CO129-454 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [4-6] — Page 116

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COP I.

Onclosure 2.

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RECE

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(R: 21 MAY 19

Hon. Colonial Secretary,

Yaumati Ferries.

Some time ago, while discussing the shortage of

funds in the Kwong Wa Hospital (Kowloon) and other Chinese Charities, it was suggested that the Yaumati Ferries could easily make an increased subscription: and I actually received an offer of $4,000 a year from a proposed company that asked in exchange only for such wharf accommodation as would allow it to compete with the present ring that controls the business. Enquiries into this idea were instituted, all the more readily as it seemed a possibly means of reaching another desirable

end

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the improvement of the general service of ferries to Yamati and possibly Sham Shui Po; for it is notorious that generally speaking these services have for long been anything

but well run.

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Enquiries were made, and the existence of this ring was clearly established: it is difficult to get exact informa- tion as to its component parts they change from time to time with the transference of shares - but the principle is that there are 16 shares, each represented by a launch with equal running rights; that is the launches run in turn for equal

There seems to periods of time, each keeping its own takings.

have been open competition in the business till one Wong Lan Shang entered it with some cheap launches bought after the 1906 typhoon: Chan Tik Kwong (a shroff in A.3. Watson & Co.)assisted

clerk to Mr. in financing him. They had to take in Mak Ping

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H.J.D. Stephena before they could get the control of what was then known as Stephen's wharf, Yaumati: now Public Square Street Pier: and these three organised the ring, and own four of the

The ring launches now plying, under the name of the Tai Yan Co. is run by Wong Lan Shang. His arrangement of the running is followed, and of fares, and of anything else of common interest he seems to work the ring fairly among the members, and is

acknowledged

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