67
19th October 1946.
The Committee has considered the implications of an amendment to traffic regula- tions to require that drivers shall keep to the right side of the road.
A majority of the members consider:
1.
(a) that such a change is desirable.
(b) that if a change is made it should be decided on now .i.e. announced now.
(c) that to mitigate expense to public utilities and trading interests long notice
is desirable and the 1st July, 1948, is recommended as the effective date.
The members of the Committee who make the above recommendations are:
Hon. Commissioner of Police.
Mr. Kwok Chan (Chinese Chamber of Commerce).
Mr. R. Y. Frost (Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce). Mr. E. H. Sainsbury (Attorney General's representative).
The remaining two members who are opposed to any change are:
Mr. L. C. F. Bellamy (General Manager, Hong Kong Tramways, Limited). Mr. C. B. Robertson (Assistant Director of Public Works (Acting)).
A Memorandum containing their views is attached to this report.
2. The public were asked via the Press on two occasions to make representations. Opinions and reasons were heard by letter or in person from the following:
Hon. Leo d'Almada.
Hon. D. F. Landale.
The Far East Representative of Messrs. Rootes, Ltd.
Messrs. Dodwell & Co., Ltd., Hong Kong.
Messrs. Gilman & Co., Ltd.
Hong Kong Omnibus Company. Kowloon Motor Bus Company.
The Far East Motors, Hong Kong.
Messrs. Tilling Stevens, Great Britain.
3. (a) The Committee are unanimously of the opinion that the existence of the Kowloon-Canton Highway provides at the moment no sufficient grounds for immediate change. Mr. Bellamy supplied some translated articles from the Chinese Press which helped to confirm that there is no likely prospect of this Highway being taken urgently into account for some years to come,
(b) The majority of the members considered that the ultimate increased use of the highway would make it desirable that the to-and-fro traffic should obey the same rule of the road in the case of:
i. private vehicles in the interests of safety.
ii. public service carrier vehicles for the same reason.
iii. public service passenger vehicles for the same reason, and in order that right hand steering vehicles may be prohibited where a right-of-the-road rule prevails.
(c) The encouragement of tourist and commercial intercourse, local and long dis- tance, is regarded as desirable.
4. The commercial interests consulted interested in the China market, are in favour of a change, but not at the present time. It was stated that orders placed now for left hand steering vehicles will be filled more slowly than orders placed for right hand steering as at present, since manufacturers in Great Britain are devoting their energies to large scale production of the present standard right hand steering.
5. It was represented to the Committee that a similar change in Canton, Shanghai and Kunming had proceeded without dislocation.
6. Objections are made firstly by the Tramway Company and Mr. Bellamy has explained them. Very considerable expense is involved in the conversion of present rolling stock, estimated at $50,000.00 in view of the necessity of a motor man's cab at the reverse end of each tramcar to protect the driver from the 3rd class crowds. This work can be done gradually. New rolling stock is wanted but cannot be available for some time and can be suitably constructed. In addition some 17 crossover points in the track will require conversion from "facing points" to "trailing points". This would have to be done over a short period at the time of the change-over:
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.