Thrice a day a small, almost top-heary Jaunch is supposed to cross the harbour from Liukungtao to Matou and back again. For this the Government subsidy is $150 per mensem. Foreigners are charged 20 cents either way, and the Chinese pay half that sum. In heavy weather the boat does not run, and not infrequently something goes wrong with the engine or steering gear—greatly to the inconvenience of would-be passengers. However, such as it is, the launch service with all its irregurarities is a great boon to residents. New regulations have now been issued. A limit is to be put to the number of passengers carried, and the subsidy is to be reduced. It is said that the launch cannot be run at" a profit under these circumstances, and we may be reduced to patronising the sampan man when occasion arises for crossing the bay. Under unfavourable conditions—of ind and tide—the journey has been known to take over two hours! Good will result from the threatened evil, if the authorities undertake the responsibility and run a more seaworthy boat themsel But since half a loaf is better than no bread, we should, of course, much prefer to put up with the present service and its defects, than have none at all.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.