1933-01-05 — Page 22

The

NEW

QUEEN'S THEATRE

Entirely

Re-decorated and Embellished

Your

for

The HOUSE of HITS!

DECORATION by STUDIO D'AET

As dependable

as an Austin

Remember the privileges and possibilities of Austin ownership and refer to the agents

Alex Ross & Co. (China), Ltd.

Prince's Building

PACIFIC ORIENTAL

Monthly Cargo and Passe

Service.

Bailing on for about

M.S. “JUTLANDIA” 14th Jan.

"Cargo and Passengers accepted for

SHANGHAI SAN FRANCISCO, VANCOUVER,

SEATTLE, PORTLAND,

hrough Bills of Lading Issued to

OVERLAND POINTS.

for

eto, please apply to:

The Buit &

Co.

MAI

Motor Trade is Fairly Good

BRITISH CARS MAKE REAL ADVANCE

UNIVERSAL PREFERENCE FOR THE SMALL CARS

in a review of

Several notable events stand out prominenti the notor trade in Lon Long to part your

Of these the most important of all the 20 per cent, tax Imposed by the Hong Kong Goremment on all care which are not of British manufacture.

Leading on to the other jeatures we have the recent décision -of-the-Government to withdraw all Comallyna licenses in the Dolony at the end of June next year and to offer the motor pas? senger transport for sander, for either the whole of the Gólony or for the Island or the Mainland only,,

The development and forthcoming opening of the vehicular ferry service; tha räimarkable growth of the hold of which British cars have secured on the local market and the general - preference -for, small cars over the large type,

**** Our representative visited the local motor agents," British and” foreign, and their views on the trade in Hong Kong are as follows:

THE 20 PER CENT, TAX

Although this tax is generally' thought to be of a great assistance

BUSINESS RATHER THAN CONVENIENCE.

Commercial

owners

motor agencies,, but

"they" have all been? cled." British manufactuşur., is différe They have a policy to uphold and they know who have rema

them in former years and so mave. faith in us and believe that we are doing our best.??

The four speed gear boxes with taeir silent third ratio have made the 10 HP. (R.A.0.) car. very "po- pular for local requirements. Al though the small 7 and 8 h.p. cars" have a distinct market of thoir! own the new 10 HP. car is be coming the more popular model as It combines the small upkeep in ronning with a slightly larger body and efficiency. In fact one agent, considers that it is definite- ly beginning to invade the popular and cheap medium car market which is held by the American (trucks) however, are eagerly care. The assistance of the 20 per the local agents are far from en- awaiting the opening of this ferry cent Government tax is no doubt thusiastic about it. One concern service and regard it as a definite great assistance in this rospect, thought that it would help a help to their business. Caterers As to the larger British cars, little while anothar, controlling and produce transporters from the which are expensive when compar- very important British small car New Territories and Carton willed with the foreign makes of equal agency expressed his opinion that be able to take over their goods horsepower, they are slowly but such a tax was of little use after without transshipment. This is surely making themselves felt by reason of their superior quality. the British small car had definite calculated to demonstrate the effi- and dependability, combined with engine efficiency. An agent of this type of car remarked that the local car owner is becoming more sensitive about the petrol consump tion of his car than in former years. Applications often include a guarantee of the petrol: con- sumption claimed for the car

to the British motoring industry

..

ly established itself to be the iciency and utility of the commer perior value-proposition and, tax cial vehicle, with a resulting in or no, the buyers first looked to crease in demand for trucks wards the British cars in their Hitherto it has been out of the choice. What he would like was a question to journey a single truck change in the "Exchange"

back and forth across the harbour on different jobs but the owner will now be able to make full use of his truck.

Quite a number of "American" Cars are now manufactured in Canada and are when imported in to the Colony free of the new tax. These with the exception of one,i)..... are medium sized cars and do not effect the small car range. On the other hand, several popular Ameri- enn cars with prices bordering that of the British small car are now ment's decision to withdraw the comfortably out of the classifica

THE OMNIBUS MONOPOLY

Something of a surprise occurred to the local motor agents on leara ing last September of the Govern

present omnibus licenses and to

What with the good appearance of British cars, an important sel ling point with the Chincas buyers, a British agent expressed bis hopes of seeing within a few years a turn in the local markëtë “in favour of British cars. The up-country market, however, still remains very difficult as the big and high powered foreign cars are no doubt most suitable for the rough going to which they are sub- jected to in the hands of the Chin

tion as regards price and this, one invite tenders for the monopoly foresa: drivers. Carrying capacity again thought, would help towards clearing the market of surplus makes which were not so much competitive as annoying.

“FOREIGN CAR AGENTS

either the whole of the Colony or the mainland. This is to take place next June and it is thought by the local British heavy vehicle agents that it will result in a de erease in the number of vehicles of this type on the road, and of course in a decrease in sales. An efficient service, extended over the Colony or Mainland, will not re-

The "foreign" agents have vary ing ideas about the tax. Among their explanations this statement was included: "Contrary to the popular belief the 20 percent tax imposed by the Government ta on the landing price of the vehicle and not the selling price." What quire the number that are present actually takes place is that the on the road, due, as competition will dealer imports the car at whatever be eliminated, although there is no price, less their commission .20 agents, the car is sold to them by suggestion by the agents that the the manufacturer. On arrival services will not remain as off should the car be sold or about to cient as most. There is also. pos be sold, the dealer registers the car (applying for a license) and pays sibility of a one make of 'bus re- the 20 percent tax, which is de placing the present types on the manded then, on the price the car road and their will make for ease was sold to them by the manufac and cheapness in, maintainence, turer. In selling the car they then "add, whatever the tax cost them to the price of the car sold which is

Our representative in his inter- very much less than the tax on the view with the managers of the selling price of the car. This in five bus companies in the Colony some cases 18 an appreciable gathered the opinion that there amount and keeps the selling cost will be serious competition for the low, and reasonable,

monopoly. It appears that the final issue will result in a generous contract for one make of vehicle rather than sharing the number amongst the many makes. Of course, British omnibuges will be the type chosen.

rather than efficiency to the gallon of petrol is the requirements in these districts

British commercial vehicles are at a similar disadvantage in the Colony due to the difficult hill climbing over the Hong Kong of the British Isles the small light roads. Designed for requirements.

commercial truck has little chance against the cheap hoary high powered foreign types.

HOW THE OTHERS FARED

Ona

foreign agent described Hong Kong as one of the best re- maining motor car markets in the world and definitely the best in the Far East. This is unanimous- ly accepted by the other dealers and no doubt accounts for the "fairly good" verdict returned by

adverse exchange in the Gold Dol all With the American cars the

lor is the biggest drawback and gets claim that they could easily better their sales if this were more satisfactory. The American car has still a large circle of admirers who continue to support their fo vourite makea To counteract the exchange and difficult times very generous "time payment schemes have been introduced with a great deal of success. There is only one small powered American car which is newly on the market, and hopes he is unable to give figures although the dealer expresses great

It is also understood that one at the moment Dealers are un of the local bus companies are able to decide whether eight or six experimenting with Diesel oil eu cylinder engines are preferred ex- ginas with a view to replacing the cept to remark that the car must present benzine motora. This type hare a flexible top gear, perform-" of motor is far the cheaper vehicle ance as the Chinese driver does not to operate and the progress made make use of the intermediate gear with Diesel motors during the past ratios. Baloon cars with flashy few years well, warrants their in- looks are preferred but of late it. taxclusion in the service, louis poticed that the owners are give is not wing more consideration for petro THE BRITISH CAR consumption and demand the

m.pig. to be as high as poss

USED CARS

Furthermore, every "dodge" possible is employed in avoiding a high taxing fee by such methods 19 importing the car less any ex tras and expensive fittings or ac cessories such as bumpers; using every means, to keep down; the coat of the car when landed. It is un derstood that certain foreign manufacturers aro giving all 58 sistance possible to their agents ap procisting their difficulty). In one case a manufacturer has agreed to phy the tax on the car.

In the expensive class the although even more more

so much drastio Be

wak pointed out that

buyer

ith an expensi

view is little worried

charge. This type of

ger gener, All decides on the make of the car rather than its merits and price.

THE VEHICULAR FERRY

With less thanga year of serious Munded Competition in the local car-mar ket nus, populár British amáll tár agency has risen to a position One of the alief amongst the

car the motor salestin Jifirma in the Col

an in- expressed by › néve dication of

foreign car agents gress, and stand

-and-accumulation have Beet

Accopted an a boon to the 230 ing fraternity of the, Colony, buyers who

| new ferry service is regarded with licentage

muchɔmore doubt by those serious. The cone 17. concerned with the motoring about. trade. The manager of one

oldest motoring

"Colony was very

this new project

SEXwill

year, and and thore: 60ņk bout aven hope to

koding the

efficient service to achieve any suci Another

cess to compensate for its locality reports that |tresiden there ins

diorespite of the

sent formtration of

Long tiah_cars

Bark

only, upt

pro

the

Einemix de Jure

The King's Theatre

The most comfortable and only Theatre in Hong Kong where you can saitu -pick-of-the world's famous

fumurious surroundings

BOOKING AT THE THEATRE" Tel. 25313, 26332

FOX

IN BAD TIMES

¶ it costs more to make people

buy you know that.

you must find more customers

each buys less,

you should advertise more. to get wider sales.

is our message for 1933 MILLINGTON LIMITED. French Bank Building.

KLIM keeps sweet

28187

KUN

KLIM

STAINABLE AT ALL S