CO129-608-7 Future policy- Report on Port Administration by Sir David Owen 24-2-1941 - 24-2-1941 — Page 61

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51. In 1938 about 500,000 tons of goods, mostly for military use, were sent by rail to various points on the line to Hankow. Since then, however, during the course of the hostilities between China and Japan the Chinese lines of railway have been much damaged at places, and the Kowloon-Canton Railway is now only operating to Lowu.

52. From evidence given to me, it would appear that if and when matters settle down in China, there will undoubtedly be a demand for the conveyance of more and more goods by rail. If this should prove to be the case the railway undertaking would, it is stated, require more facilities than they now have in the way of pier and godown accommodation. When Messrs. Coode, Fitzmaurice, Wilson & Mitchell reported in 1922 on the development of the Port, they provided for the construction of new piers with railway connexions.

53. Although it is not expected that the necessity for more facilities for the railway will arise for some years, I think it well to mention it now, as it is a factor that will have to be borne in mind in planning for the future development of the Port. It is expected that the railway, connected again as it should be with the Chinese railways, will be able to tap sources of trade, yet untouched, in rich territories in China and so tend to the expansion of the trade of the Port of Hong Kong. In the meantime the railway undertaking has ample Port facilities for the conduct of its business.

54. ROADS. There are some 371 miles of Lood roads in the Colony, 173 being on the island of Hong Kong, 106 in Kowloon and 92 in the New Territories. From a Port point of view there does not seem to be much to complain of as regards road facilities for the conveyance of such goods as have to go over road, to and from the water front, except that there is congestion, owing to its narrowness, of the public road which runs along the waterside in Victoria from the Naval Yard to Wing Lok Street. This matter is dealt with later in this Report. With regard to goods traffic with China, carried by road, it will no doubt be necessary, in future, to widen and improve the present road to the frontier, to cope with any increase of such traffic that may take place when normal conditions are restored.

55. FERRIES.

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Owing to the geographical position of Hong Kong the need for a ferry service to convey passengers and vehicles between the Island and the mainland at Kowloon naturally arose, and such a service was established many years ago.

At the present time there are a number of ferry services, the most important being:

(a)

The Star Ferry for passengers between Kowloon Point and a site near the General Post Office in Hong Kong.

(6) The Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry for passengers between

Hong Kong and Jordan Road, Shan Tung Street, Pei Ho Street, Gillies Avenue and Kai Tak Road, all in Kowloon; also to Sai Wan Ho near the eastern end of the Harbour; and for vehicles between Hong Kong (Jubilee Street) and Kowloon (Jordan Road).

(0)

The New Territories Ferries run by the Hong Kong and

Yaumati Ferry Company, from a position near Wilmar Street, Hong Kong, to Cheung Chau Island, Tsun Wan on the mainland, Ma Wan Island, Castle Peak Bay on the mainland, Ping Chau Island and Silver Mine Bay, Tung Chung and Tai O which are situated on the Island of Lantau, and also to Aberdeen a small port on the southern side of the island of Hong Kong, all of which are outside the Harbour limits.