1969-1970 — Page 7

GENERAL SURVEY

THE increase in both goods and passenger traffic continued during the year (see Appendices XV and XVII), resulting in higher earnings as the following figures indicate:

(a) Gross railway revenue $15,999,605 was $1,022,740 more than in

1968-69.

(b) Goods revenue $7,171,801 was $350,455 more than in 1968-69. (c) Passenger revenue $7,928,002 was $531,316 more than in

1968-69.

2. A total of 889,396 metric tons of goods was transported by the Railway during the year, an increase of 8.5% over the previous year. 99.8% of the goods traffic consisted of imports from China, which amounted to 887,928 metric tons, 8.6% greater than in the previous year. The export tonnage was 810 metric tons compared with 1,132 last year. Goods carried within the Colony amounted to 658 metric tons compared with 679 last year.

3. The import of live pigs from China has been traditionally an important feature of the incoming goods traffic. The total imported during the year was 1,040,794 head, the highest figure ever recorded and 27,458 head more than in the preceding year.

4. The number of passengers carried was 10,299,164 an increase of 6.74% over last year's total of 9,649,084, and this established a new record (see Appendix XV). Of these 9,511,124 were local passengers which is also a new record (see Appendix XVI). 788,040 persons travelled to and from China compared with 635,090 during the previous year. There is no definite trend, however, in the movement of non-local passengers, which fluctuates unpredictably and depends entirely on conditions in China (see Appendix XIV).

5. The ever-increasing number of local passengers, particularly during daily rush hours and holidays, has caused considerable difficulties during the past few years. The single line with the existing rolling stock can no longer cope with the demand, and the growth of population in the New Territories and the anticipated increase in goods

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