}
10
tion of speed restrictions over certain bridges and sections of track caused frequent delays. Movements and handling of traffic at Kowloon were also restricted due to lack of siding accommodation in the early part of the year, and in order to improve the situation in the interests of both Sections, track materials were obtained from the Canton-Hankow Railway on loan to enable two loop lines and three sidings to be restored.
29.
Accidents both operating and personal are detailed
below:-
1 minor collision.
4 Engine failures.
5 Derailments.
2 Trespassers killed by trains.
17
""
injured by trains.
6 Level crossing gates damaged by Motor Traffic.
1
"
""
Rail Traffic.
""
30. A tragic incident occurred on January 1st. when a Rail- bus leaving Fanling daily at 17.30 hours was held up by armed robbers at Mile 114. As a result of this hold up, a passenger was killed and two others were wounded.
31.
The number of passengers travelling without payment of fares and with intent to avoid payment has given cause for concern. Most of them were Chinese troops, ex-soldiers and and deserters engaged in smuggling, and when approached for tickets adopted a threatening and aggressive attitude which intimidated Railway employees. However, joint Military and Police action was called for in September and Police searches and strict control at Kowloon and Yaumati stations since has effected improvements. The situation was not eased by the shortage of Ticket Examining and Collecting staff, as it was not possible to recruit suitable persons for the pay offered.
32. In January lectures were commenced to various grades of Traffic staff on Railway Rules and Regulations as drawn up in the new Rule Book which was approved by the Governor in Council, and distributed in December.
33.
ACCOUNTS - GENERAL
On starting the Railway after the re-occupation it was found that all records had been destroyed and forms and account books had to be reconstructed from memory by the clerical staff. No Working Agreement materialized during the year and the method of settling accounts, and reconciling view points, was by meetings of Executives, either in Hong Kong, Canton or Hengyang, and correspondence between the
11
Chief Accountants of each Section. All this tended to slow up accounting, and made work more complicated by reason of unavoidable delayed decisions on Traffic Rates, Transaction and Conversion Rates.
34. The Capital Account as at 1st May 1946 has been compiled on approximate figures after consulting the Accoun- tant General, who advised that the Capital value should be shown at a figure which bears a reasonable relationship to reality. Estimates have been made by the technical staff of the Railway in accordance with the ideas expressed by the Accountant General, and the figure is $16,532,881.19. Additions and Betterments also an approx. figure amount to $2,429,641.80, making a total of $18,962,552.99 at the end of the year.
35.
When the British Military Administration period ended on 30th. April 1946, this Department refunded a cash balance of $474,536.67 to Treasury, and the sum of $242,872.81 was due to the Chinese Section in respect of Traffic Earnings up to that date. This amount was subsequently paid to the Chinese Section from 1946 47 Revenue.
It is not yet known what basis is to be adopted regarding the handover from British Military Administration to Civil Administration and, pending a decision, all book balances have been brought forward from the British Military Administration period.
36.
The net operating revenue was $4,431,700.03 and the operating expenditure $2,226,388.73.
37.
An Operating Account has been drawn up for the purposes of this report, which, gives the financial picture of the Railway's working results for the eleven months under review.
38.
The last available statements of account of this Depart- ment are those for the year 1939. No figures are available for 1940 and 1941, and a decision has not as yet been given the Department as to the procedure to be adopted in respect of these years.
A Profit and Loss Account and General Balance Sheet cannot be compiled until a ruling is made.
39. It should be noted that in the absence of records Depreciation on pre-war Rolling Stock has been calculated on a further life of 5 years for locomotives and 6 years for carriages and wagons.
40. Shortage of staff and continual resignations caused serious delays in compiling final Division Sheets, and it was not possible to make the first post-war half yearly settlement as at 30th. June 1946 until March 28th. 1947. The Chinese
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