CO129-595-9 The British Military Administration of Hong Kong- report- 1946 11-7-1946 - 2-9-1946 — Page 47

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(b) Clearance by Rail.

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(i) Only one berth in the entire Colony is rail served

namely, No. 1 Berth at Holt's Whraf.

(ii) Until recently, clearance by this means was extre- mely limited due to lack of rolling stock and only a single line linking up with the main line.

(iii) A considerable improvement has been effected by the construction of a loop line and spurs, and the

arrival of rolling stock.

(iv) Estimated present clearance by rail from Kowloon

to Canton, is approximately 300 tons per day.

(c) Clearance by Inland Water Transport.

(i) Lighters and junks are in short supply, but towing

craft is almost sufficient under the present

circumstances.

(ii) With completion of assembly of Phoenix Nesting

barges and Ministry of War Transport lighters,

the position will be greatly improved, and demands have been placed for further towing craft to meet

the additional commitment which will result.

(iii) Trans-harbour traffic in Feb. 46 by Inland Water

Transport craft was as follows:-

Total tonnage handled

1

personnel carried

5440 Tons.

3020

>>

vehicles

20

"

ponies

46

"

4.

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Future Development.

(a) It is believed that supply of M.T. will very shortly meet

all requirements for docks clearance.

(b) With the assembly of two shipments of rolling stock, and

arrival of two 80-ton locomotives for the British Section

of the Kowloon-Canton Railway, clearance by rail will be

considerably increased in tonnage and an accelerated

service will come into force.

(c) Port clearance will be very much improved when the 22 Phoenix Nesting barges and 100 Ministry of War Trans- port lighters are assembled. This will also have the effect of reducing the present exorbitant charges for hire of junks. However, 50 more lighters will still be required and orders have been placed accordingly. Clearance by sea to Canton was an important pre-war feature of port clearance, but lack of craft at present does not allow of development. Request for the necessary number and types of craft has already been made to the Colonial

Office.

(d) Estimated total port capacity, and therefore clearance,

for Apr. 46 is as follows:-

-

(i) Imports, 4000 tons, exports, 3000 tons, per day.

(ii) Additional to above, coal, 3500 tons per day.

(iii) Additional to (i). Imports above, 100 vehicles per

day.

(iv) Port carry-over, 20,000 tons, in any one month.

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