14.. In conjunction with the plan reports have been prepared on passenger, freight and personnel strategy. The investment plan and these reports form the nucleus of a corporate plan for the Kowloon-Canton Railway.
15. To assist forward planning, the Railway took part in discussions on the Comprehensive Transport Study for Hong Kong in which ideas were exchanged with a view to preparing plans for future transport requirements. The electri- fication of the Kowloon-Canton Railway was also mentioned in the green paper on transport published by the Hong Kong Government during the year.
16. Public Relations : More emphasis was paid to public relations. All public comments in the press and letters were dealt with and action taken where improvements suggested were practicable. Questionnaires were used to improve communications with the public and obtain their views on new measures which the Railway was considering adopting. Station public address systems were used increasingly to advise passingers of train information.
17. To improve internal administration, management information systems were developed to produce a regular flow of data regarding train load factors, punctuality, rolling stock utilization and equipment failures to enable management to take action more quickly. Quarterly financial forecasts were introduced with regular monitoring to improve financial control.
18. Torrential rainstorms caused by typhoon Carmen, which came close to Hong Kong on 19th October, 1974, caused damage to Railway property but, railway services were only slightly interrupted.
TRAFFIC
19.
Traffic earnings increased by $6,692,376.00 (30.42%) in comparison with the previous year.
Recent trends are shown below :·
1971/72
$18,144,609
1972/73 $20,558,310
1973/74 $21,996,433
1974/75 $28,688,809
20.
Passenger traffic Local passenger journeys increased by 4.54% and international journeys by 8.89%. The latter was caused by the growing attraction of China as a business and tourist centre and the increasing volume of Hong Kong residents visiting families.
21. On Ching Ming Festival Day, 5th April, 1974 and Chung Yeung Festival Day, 23rd October, 1974, 27 and 25 extra trains were operated respectively, in addition to the normal daily service of 36, to facilitate visits to the cemeteries at Wo Hop Shek and Sandy Ridge; 154,296 passengers were carried on the two days.
22. On Dragon Boat Festival Day, 24th June, 1974, 22 special trains were added to the normal daily service to transport spectators who went to the dragon boat races held in Tai Fo (Yuen Chow Tsai). 33,947 passengers were carried. Mr. Denys Roberts, the Acting Governor, who attended the races was conveyed on a special coach to the level crossing at Tai Po Kau. It was the first time that a special coach was used at the rear of a scheduled train.
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