The world's most iconic and ingenious tramways, it carries our memories, both happy and unhappy times. You could say that the tram is our good buddy. CONTENTS P. 12 P. 58 P. 86 P. 128 Development 1940s 1970s - 1980s FUTURE Trams during Japanese Occupation Tram Reform Period Facing Challenges Stepping into a New Era of Trams Japanese Occupation Acquisition by New Company and Reform What should be the Future of Trams in Hong Kong? Post-Japanese Surrender Phasing Out of North West New Territories Tram System Fierce and Competitive Operation Environment in Hong Kong Second Tram Overturning Accident Drop in Patronage Second “Tram Killing Crisis” and Solution Hong Kong Trams are Outdated? Trams Abroad are Advanced! Large-Scale Tram Renovation Is there any Room for Development of Trams? Classic Trams It is Worth Thinking about the Past and the Future Minor Amendments to Routes ”Massive Relocation” of Depots P. 32 P. 68 P. 138 1900s - 1920s 1947 - 1950s P. 106 Trams with Early Tram Service in Hong Kong Post-War Recovery Period The Birth of Trams in Hong Kong The Fifth-generation Tramcars 1990s You & Me for a Commencement of Tram Service North Point Terminus Commenced Service Coastal Line Proposal Shelved Early Tram Style, Operation and Charges Causeway Bay Depot Centenary Trendy Mode of Transport Reappearance of Tramcar Body Advertisements P. 48 P. 80 P. 114 P. 168 1920s - 1930s 1960s 2000s - PRESENT The Development After Relocation Emergence of Single Deck Trailer Trams after Millennium Appendix of Headquarters to Hong Kong Emergence of tramcars with Single Deck Trailers Millennium Trams Traction engineering Change of Ownership of Hong Kong Tramways Identifying a Tramcar with a Decker Centenary of Trams in Hong Kong Change of Tram Style Withdrawal of Tramcars with Single Deck Trailers Changing Hands of Management Bibliography Abortive Kowloon Tramway Proposal Birth of Seventh-Generation Trams Operating Bus Service Carrying our Culture and Life Stories Development of TRAMSin Hong Kong At about 1905, a tram ran across the Canal Road Flyover (also known as Bowrington Bridge) in Causeway Bay, traversing the Bowrington Canal. 1905 14 15 In summer 1906, streets were devastated by typhoon. A tram was stuck near Tin Hau. 1906 16 17 Near the China Provident Godown in Kennedy Town, Sai Wan. Trams were already at their third generation with tents. Trams and rickshaws were the major 1910s methods of transport on Hong Kong Island. 1920s 18 19 Hennessy Road in Causeway Bay, and the intersection in front is Tin Lok Lane. Trams drove from the Happy Valley Terminus. Trams here belong to the more comfortable fourth- generation. 1920s 20 21 1930s At the front was Queen's Road East in Admiralty; A tram passed by the further away were two Alexandra House in Des three-storey admiralty Voeux Road Central, buildings. Trams in the Central. photo were from the fourth generation. 1940s 22 23 Des Voeux Road Central (near the Central Market). 1940s 24 25 1950s Trams from two generations met at the High Court in Central. The junction between Des Voeux Road Central and Pedder Street. 1950s 26 27 Workers were busily repairing the tram road on Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay (near the now Sogo). 1960s In order to cope with the massive influx of immigrants which led to a rapid increase in demand, ten single deck trailers were introduced. The photo shows a tram with single deck trailer attached at the Causeway Bay Terminus. 1960s 28 29 The French RATP Dev Transdev Asia officially acquired Hong Kong Tramways. 2009 Kennedy Town Terminus. 1996 Sharp Street Depot in Causeway Bay. 1980 30 31 1900s Early Tram Service in Hong Kong Tramways were built along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island. 1920s By riding on the tram you could enjoy the costal scenery. 32 33 1900s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1947 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Future Central Harbourfront in the 1900s. In 1842, after the Qing and British governments signed the Treaty of Nanking, Hong Kong embarked on its more than 100 year long colonial era. During the early colonial years, according to statistics from the British, the population was only 3,650. Under vigorous development by the colonial government, Hong Kong became a free port, attracting larger number of Chinese traders of foreign goods. Because of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement in the 19th Century, many Chinese businessmen fled to Hong Kong to seek refuge, leading to a population surge to 60,000 in 1881. As mass transport system was in great demand, Wu Ting-fang, the first Senior Chinese Unofficial Member, proposed to construct the tramway. The Birth of Trams in Hong Kong In 1882, the British government promulgated the Tramway Ordinance to propose constructing a six- segment tram system. The well-known Peak Tram was In the 1920s, Peak Tram was the only mode of one of the segments. As the British and wealthy foreign transport connecting Admiralty and the Peak. businessmen mainly resided in the Central District and the Peak, corporations were only interested in this segment of the tram system. When the Peak Tram began its operation in 1888, the tram system project at the northern shore of the Hong Kong Island still received no interest and had to be put on hold. 34 35 1900s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1947 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Future What is worth mentioning is that at the initial stage, foreigners served at the management level of the company. It was only until later stage that Chinese served at the management level. Since 1902, Mr J. Gray Scott had acted as the General Manager. The “tradition” of foreigners serving as the General Manager changed in 1994, when Mr Frankie Yick Chi-ming served as the first Chinese General Manager. Since then, the position of General Manager has usually been filled up by a Chinese. Cadogan Street, Kennedy Town at about 1905, where The Merton is now situated. The status quo had remained till 1901. Due to the success of running the tramway in England, the government believed that the environment in Hong Kong was also suitable for developing a tram system. It thus proposed amendments to the Tramway Ordinance, in which British-funded Hongkong Tramway Electric Company Limited (established on 7th February 1902 in London, United Kingdom, with a capital of about £300) would be responsible for operating the tram service. Vehicles, tracks and equipment were all imported from England. Unfortunately, the company soon announced liquidation. By the end of the same year, the Electric Traction Company of Hongkong Limited took control of the Hongkong Tramway Electric Company Limited. In 1903, the company began paving tracks and building facilities. The then standard gauge was 1067mm, while the voltage of overhead line was 550V. As regards the routes, only monorail was laid from Kennedy Town to Causeway Bay at the initial stage, which later on extended to Shau Kei Wan. Senior management and senior staff of Hongkong Tramway in 1909. 36 37 1900s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1947 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Future On 2nd July, 1904, the first tramcar underwent test run between Causeway Bay and Wan Chai. At 10 a.m. on 30th July, 1904, the same No.16 tramcar left the Causeway Bay Tram Depot and was driven by Mrs Jones, the wife of the Director of Public Works, to Arsenal Street in Admiralty, with her son on board ringing the bell continuously. Later, A first-generation tram a cocktail party was held on board passed by the Central Market. by the Hong Kong Tramways. The atmosphere was lively. Amid cheers, tram service officially commenced in Hong Kong. News report on service commencement of trams. (Hong Kong Daily Press, 1 Aug 1904) Commencement of Tram Service 38 39 1900s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1947 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Future The first-generation first-class The first-generation third- tramcar drove past the Hong class tram drove past Shau Kong Cricket Club in Central Kei Wan. (now Chater Garden). Early Tram Style, Operation and Charges Hong Kong Tramways had 26 first-batch tramcars, which were all known as the “first-generation Initially, trams were divided into two categories – first-class and third-class tramcars. trams”. All these tramcars were of single deck and made in England. The components were There were ten first-class tramcars and 16 third-class tramcars. The first class tramcar shipped to Hong Kong from England before they were assembled in Hong Kong. was enclosed in the centre with two long benches on both sides. Both the front and the back ends were open. Seating capacity was 32 passengers. The third-class These single-deck tramcars were all painted maroon with doors and window frames in white. tramcars were open-sided with no side panels but six sets of benches running Some tramcars had louvres on the roofs for convection. As the tram system was operated by through the middle, back to back, seating 48 passengers. The first-class tram fare bidirectional monorail, both the front and the rear of tramcars had driver’s cabs. was 10 cents, while that for third-class was 5 cents. 40 41 1900s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1947 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Future Two third-class trams drove past the landmark Kwong Technical drawing of the first- Tung Hotel in Shek Tong Tsui. generation first-class tram. One can see the open-sided tram cars. First-generation tramcar with single-deck design in 1906. The background was Alexandra House in Central. Technical drawing of the first- generation third-class tram. 42 43 1900s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1947 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Future According to the records, the initial operation of tram service was not smooth.