ENG-1956 — Page 270

COMMUNICATIONS

219

The total revenue for 1956 was $7,575,528. Operating expenditure was $3,766,301, leaving a net operating revenue of $3,809,227. The corresponding figures for the previous year were $5,222,444, $3,785,746, $1,436,698 respectively. Capital expenditure was $2,318,907. The net operating revenue for 1956 is, therefore, about $2.3 million more than

last year.

Passenger traffic increased by 1,069,930, compared with 1955, and goods traffic also increased by 53,408 tons.

Passengers carried within the territory of Hong Kong were 3,713,008 or 76.09% of the total. Passengers to and from the frontier station of Lowu numbered 1,166,618 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 in force between the Colony and China and until the through passenger service is resumed. At present, passengers passing from British to Chinese territory or vice versa have to walk the 300 yards separating the two termini.

In addition to the two existing diesel electric locomotives, another three were ordered from Australia in June 1956. They are expected to be ready for delivery in February 1957-

Statistics for 1956 are as follows:

:

Main line-22 miles

Total length of line-35 miles New Territories (Hong Kong)

4,879,626

Length of Line

Main points of call

:

Passengers carried

Freight carried

:

Passenger miles

:

215,726 tons

65,435,406

ROADS

With the construction of many new roads, particularly in Kowloon, the length of roads in the Colony was increased by over 7 miles, bringing the total to 450 miles.

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