106
82
down in Schedule B to the notification published in the Gazette of 2nd September, 1932, as Notification No. S.319, which schedule has been incorporated in the licence granted to the Company, or from instituting second-class fares on any of the first seven routes mentioned in that schedule.
2. As regards the extensions of routes requested by the China Motor Bus Company, Limited, I am to say that His Excellency considers these extensions desirable in the public interest and has confirmed his approval of them with effect from 1st April next.
3. I am to add that as the Bus Company is introducing reduced fares it is assumed that your clients will not be willing to pay the expense of a visit of an officer of the British Ministry of Transport.
83
This particularly applies to further extension of routes or sanction to put on the streets larger buses or a more frequent service of buses than is provided for in Schedule A of Government Gazette notice of September 2nd, 1932, and in particular that a bus service of greater frequency than 10 minutes on the No. I route or of a 5 minutes on the No. 5 route will not be granted until our clients' petition has been considered as aforesaid by the Secretary of State.
We have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servants,
MESSRS. DEACONS, HONG KONG.
Letter Number 4.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
(sd.) D. W. TRATMAN,
Clerk of Councils.
THE HONOURABLE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Letter Number 5.
(sd.) DEACONS.
SIR,
DEACONS,
1, DES VEUX ROAD CENTRAL,
HONG KONG, April 3rd, 1935.
Re CHINA MOTOR BUS CO., LTD., AND HONG KONG TRAMWAYS, LTD.
to
Further to our letter of to-day's date our clients have instructed us prepare a petition addressed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies appealing against the decision of His Excellency to allow the China Motor Bus Co., Ltd., to charge 5-cent fares on those routes particularly Nos. 1 and 5 which are in direct In such petition our clients will competition with our clients' undertaking. emphasize what they consider to be a grave injustice which they are suffering due to the lack in Hong Kong of any legislation on the lines of section 72 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930.
It is probable that in this connection the matter will be referred by the Secretary of State to the Ministry of Transport, and in that event our clients are still prepared to pay the expense of a visit to Hong Kong of an official of the Ministry of Transport.
A section of shareholders of the Company have been urging upon the Board of Directors a policy of fare cutting at uneconomic rates in order to repel the invasion by the China Motor Bus Co., Ltd., on the routes heretofore served solely by our clients. This suggestion is regarded with disfavour at the moment by the Board of Directors but it is earnestly requested that the Government shall grant no further concessions to the China Motor Bus Co., Ltd., until our clients' petition has been duly considered by the Secretary of State.
No. 1/470/32.
MESSES. DEACONS,
1, DES VEUX ROAD CENTRAL,
HONG KONG.
GENTLEMEN,
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONG KONG, 15th April, 1935.
With reference to your letter of the 3rd April, 1935, regarding the China Motor Bus Company, Limited, and Hong Kong Tramways, Limited, I am directed to inform you that, in the event of any request for concessions being received from the China Motor Bus Company, Limited, the wishes of your clients will receive the careful consideration of this Government.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
(sd.) A. G. GRANTHAM,
Per Colonial Secretary,
07
Page 70Page 71
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.