ENG-1967 — Page 259

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COMMUNICATIONS

be reduced by varying degrees because of the loss of staff by the companies.

The Star Ferry was the first public transport company to be affected by a major stoppage. In June, walkout of staff was complete and the company dismissed all its floating staff and both its cross- harbour services had to be suspended for three days. As a result or re-registration of dismissed employees, a limited service on the Edinburgh Place-Tsim Sha Tsui route was resumed on June 10. Within a month, this service was back to normal, but the service stopped at 2 instead of 3 a.m. The Hung Hom-Edinburgh Place route remains suspended pending a detailed examination of its usefulness.

Similar difficulties faced the other public transport companies. On June 23, the Hongkong Tramways Limited found itself with approximately 60 per cent staff, the China Motor Bus Company with 46 per cent, the Kowloon Motor Bus Company with 32 per cent and the Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry Company with 94 per cent. After the stoppages, a programme of re-employment of suspended or dismissed employees met with poor response and the companies had to recruit new and untrained labour. This ruled out any chance of an immediate return to normal operating con- ditions.

Nevertheless, the Hongkong Tramways Limited was operating all its regular services again by mid-October. The Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry Company suffered less than any other major trans- port company and within a very short space of time was operating all its normal services, with the exception of one which remains suspended pending a decision on the construction of the cross- harbour tunnel. Both bus companies had broken the back of their recruiting problems by the end of the year. The Transport Office helped to train additional bus driving instructors and granted learner bus-drivers immediate tests. ~

The Kowloon Motor Bus Company had to suspend service on many routes and carried out a re-examination of the justification and requirements of each route before bringing it back into opera- tion. By the end of 1967, the China Motor Bus Company was