ENG-1955 — Page 213

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

Hong Kong possesses unexcelled sea communications, and regular services are maintained by 15 shipping lines to Europe and the United Kingdom, 18 to the North American continent, 9 to Australia and New Zealand, as well as lines to Africa and South America, and innumerable lines to Asian ports from Yokohama to Karachi.

KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY

Kowloon is the southern terminal of a railway system extending to Hankow, with connexions to North, East and South-West China. The British Section of the line, which is 22 miles long, is owned by the Hong Kong Government, and is operated between Kowloon and Lowu on the southern bank of Shumchun River, which forms part of the Colony's frontier with China. Through services were formerly operated to Canton and to the North, but since October 1949, when the Central People's Government was establish- ed, through passenger services have been suspended. Passengers proceeding to and from China change trains at the frontier. Goods traffic in wagonloads has been passing to and from China without off-loading at the frontier since 1950.

The total revenue for 1955 was $5,222,444. Operating expenditure was $3,785,746, leaving a net operating revenue of $1,436,698. The corresponding figures for the previous year were $4,625,933, $3,641,660, $984,273 respectively. Capital expenditure was $5,731,320. The net operating revenue for 1955 is therefore about $452,425 more than last year.

Passenger traffic decreased by 24,782, compared with 1954, while goods traffic increased by 43,100 tons. In spite of a decrease in passenger traffic, revenue from this source was more than last year, due to a zoning of fares which became effective on 1 July.

Passengers carried within the territory of Hong Kong were 3,534,972, or 92.79% of the total. Passengers to and from the frontier station of Lowu numbered 274,724 and the majority of these travelled between Hong Kong and China.

The railway will not regain its former prosperity until there is a relaxation of the trade and travel restrictions now