1953-1954 — Page 6

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GENERAL SURVEY

The pattern of the report for the year 1953/54 follows closely that of the previous year.

2. There was however a considerable increase in passenger traffic with China resulting from a relaxation in the issue of travel permits which continued from April until November when a tightening-up took place.

3. In the case of goods traffic, export tonnages declined by 36.46% with receipts 32.52% compared with the previous year, while imports fell off by 29.36% in tonnage and 29.58% in receipts. It is probable that this decline would not have occurred but for serious floods in Kwangtung which stopped rail movement for 7 days in June and the subsequent floods in Kiangsi during July and August.

4. An important feature on this short line is the con- tinuous increase in the local passenger traffic. While travel to and from China is entirely dependent on the travel regulations promulgated by China, and therefore fluctuates from time to time, the local movement to get out of town since re-occupation has been persistent.

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The latest figures show an increase of 15,600 per month and although picnic parties and excursions of various kinds form a considerable percentage of this figure, yet the removal of a single family to a village immediately provides a number of passenger journeys per week, and there is visual evidence of this increase in the population of the New Territories.

5. The serious delay in the delivery of 19 passenger coaches referred to in para. 19 continues and they are not now expected before April 1955. Meanwhile, the non-local passenger journeys for the year increased by 90.69% and 95.83% in revenue, and the total for the year (local and non-local) amounted to 13.84% and 20.54% in revenue.

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