118-454: Happy Valley Loop: 2.6 km (1.6 mi) [REDACTED] Hong Kong Tramways ( HKT ) is a 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm ) narrow-gauge tram system in Hong Kong . Owned and operated by RATP Dev , the tramway runs on Hong Kong Island between Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan , with a branch circulating through Happy Valley . Hong Kong's tram system is one of
236-698: A 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm ) gauge, whereas Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand have metre-gauge railways . Narrow-gauge trams, particularly metre-gauge, are common in Europe. Non-industrial, narrow-gauge mountain railways are (or were) common in the Rocky Mountains of the United States and the Pacific Cordillera of Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, Bulgaria, the former Yugoslavia , Greece, and Costa Rica. A narrow-gauge railway
354-528: A light rail system. That system, now known as the Light Rail , opened to the public on 18 September 1988. During the early hours of Thursday, 6 April 2017, a tram tipped over in Central , injuring 14 people. Soon after, it was suggested that the tram was travelling too fast into a turn. The driver was later arrested for allegedly causing grievous bodily harm due to dangerous driving . Two days later, it
472-529: A capacity of over 60 trams and is for parking purpose only. A single, comprehensive depot at Russell Street in Causeway Bay was the only depot of the system from 1904. It was able to house the whole tram fleet (approximately 120 tramcars). By 1932, Russell Street Depot became overcrowded due to an upsurge in the number of trams, prompting HKT to build North Point Depot at King's Road for tram parking purposes (storage for 30 tramcars). Russell Street Depot
590-631: A combination of modern interior design and traditional outlook with LED displays, stops reporting, and AC motors. The “NexTram” passenger info system was launched in 2012. HKT proposed a modern light rail system for East Kowloon as a cheaper alternative to monorail in 2013. HKT celebrated 110 years of service in 2014. Following the opening of the West Island line of the MTR , daily tramway ridership dropped 10% to 180,000 in 2015. HKT provided real-time estimated time of arrival data to Citymapper in 2016, becoming
708-425: A curve with standard-gauge rail ( 1435 mm ) can allow speed up to 145 km/h (90 mph), the same curve with narrow-gauge rail ( 1067mm ) can only allow speed up to 130 km/h (81 mph). In Japan and Queensland, recent permanent-way improvements have allowed trains on 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm ) gauge tracks to exceed 160 km/h (99 mph). Queensland Rail 's Electric Tilt Train ,
826-588: A day in the camp, including a bowl of congee given at 8:00 in the morning. Prisoners were confined in jail all day. Some were stripped naked.There were children in the camp as well. Two weeks later, the number of people in the camp reached 400. At 4 pm that day, all of them were forced to board a boat by the port at North Point. After a day, they arrived in Pinghai Town, Huizhou City . The able-bodied refugees were released; about seventy people deemed physically weak were slaughtered and their bodies were dumped into
944-455: A design speed of 137 km/h (85 mph). Curve radius is also important for high speeds: narrow-gauge railways allow sharper curves, but these limit a vehicle's safe speed. Many narrow gauges, from 15 in ( 381 mm ) gauge to 4 ft 8 in ( 1,422 mm ) gauge, are in present or former use. They fall into several broad categories: 4 ft 6 in ( 1,372 mm ) track gauge (also known as Scotch gauge)
1062-695: A double-track tram line built parallel to the northern coastline of Hong Kong Island from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan, with a single clockwise-running track of about 3 km (1.9 mi) around the Happy Valley Racecourse . There are six overlapping routes: HKT currently has around 120 tram stops, including its seven termini. The termini, from west to east, are Kennedy Town , Shek Tong Tsui , Western Market, Happy Valley , Causeway Bay, North Point , and Shau Kei Wan . The stops are densely located, with an average interval of 250 metres (820 ft) between them. Several tram stops are located in
1180-701: A few bombs fell accidentally on Hong Kong territory, destroying a bridge and a train station. In 1936, Germany and the Empire of Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact . In 1937, Fascist Italy joined the pact, forming the core of what would become known as the Axis Powers . In the autumn of 1941, Nazi Germany was near the height of its military power. After the invasion of Poland and fall of France , German forces had overrun much of Western Europe and were racing towards Moscow . The United States
1298-474: A heavy-duty narrow-gauge line is Brazil's EFVM . 1,000 mm ( 3 ft 3 + 3 ⁄ 8 in ) gauge, it has over-100-pound rail (100 lb/yd or 49.6 kg/m) and a loading gauge almost as large as US non-excess-height lines. The line has a number of 4,000-horsepower (3,000 kW) locomotives and 200-plus-car trains. Narrow gauge's reduced stability means that its trains cannot run at speeds as high as on broader gauges. For example, if
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#17327796693751416-553: A long-term financier of Po Leung Kuk. There were very few public hospitals during the Japanese occupation, as many of them were forcibly converted to military hospitals. Despite the inadequate supply of resources, Tung Wah Hospital and Kwong Wah Hospital still continuously offered limited social services to needy people. In June 1943, the management of water, gas and electricity was transferred into private Japanese hands. Through schooling, mass media and other means of propaganda,
1534-503: A mine in Bohemia with a railway of about 2 ft ( 610 mm ) gauge. During the 16th century, railways were primarily restricted to hand-pushed, narrow-gauge lines in mines throughout Europe. In the 17th century, mine railways were extended to provide transportation above ground. These lines were industrial , connecting mines with nearby transportation points (usually canals or other waterways). These railways were usually built to
1652-825: A number of large 3 ft ( 914 mm ) railroad systems in North America; notable examples include the Denver & Rio Grande and Rio Grande Southern in Colorado; the Texas and St. Louis Railway in Texas, Arkansas and Missouri; and, the South Pacific Coast , White Pass and Yukon Route and West Side Lumber Co of California. 3 ft was also a common track gauge in South America, Ireland and on
1770-416: A possible invasion to retake the colony, the Japanese introduced a policy of enforced deportation. As a result, the unemployed were deported to mainland China , and the population of Hong Kong dwindled from 1.6 million in 1941 to 600,000 in 1945. Furthermore, the Japanese modified the territory's infrastructure and landscape significantly in order to serve their wartime interests. For example, to expand
1888-635: A range of industrial railways running on 500 mm ( 19 + 3 ⁄ 4 in ) and 400 mm ( 15 + 3 ⁄ 4 in ) tracks, most commonly in restricted environments such as underground mine railways, parks and farms, in France. Several 18 in ( 457 mm ) gauge railways were built in Britain to serve ammunition depots and other military facilities, particularly during World War I . Japanese occupation of Hong Kong The Imperial Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began when
2006-667: A rare fully double-decker tram fleet. As of 2014, HKT owned 165 double-axle, double-decker trams. There are three maintenance-only trams (No. 200, No. 300, and No. 400) that operate after regular tram service has stopped. The trams are equipped with sliding windows and almost all have full-body advertisements. (No. 1–16) first batch of third class tramcars (No. 17–26) first class tramcars (No. 27–36) second batch of third class tramcars (No. 37–46) first batch double-decker tramcars (No. 47–62) new-build canvas-roof tramcars (No. 63–80) fixed wood-roof tramcars Note: Generally, there are no specific/official generation categories on tramcars. Many of
2124-474: A residential and industrial area, which greatly increased traffic demand to Central. Extending the tram line from Shau Kei Wan to Chai Wan was considered, but was ultimately rejected. This was due to low cost effectiveness associated with the need to tunnel through the hills between Shau Kei Wan and Chai Wan to maintain level track. The Island line of the MTR was built instead, and its first phase, between Chai Wan and Admiralty , opened on 31 May 1985. During
2242-653: A small boat, but soon after the journey started, a typhoon hit and the ships were left to drift on their own. Fourteen sank, killing about 3,000 people. The bow of another ship was destroyed. Survivors rescued later were unable to walk due to starvation. Many of them died on the beach. On 18 September 1942, the Japanese Occupation Government in Hong Kong held the first population census . According to historical documents, more than 2,000 people were killed or disappeared after being arrested during
2360-540: A small hotel, while some bankers who were viewed as enemies of the Imperial Japanese were executed. In May 1942, Imperial Japanese companies were encouraged to be set up. A Hong Kong trade syndicate consisting of Imperial Japanese firms was set up in October 1942 to manipulate overseas trade. To cope with a lack of resources and the potential for Chinese residents of Hong Kong to support the allied forces in
2478-515: A testimonial, English was forbidden from being taught and was not tolerated outside the classroom. Some private Japanese language schools were established to promote oral Japanese. The Military Administration ran the Teachers' Training Course, and those teachers who failed a Japanese bench-mark test would need to take a three-month training course. The Japanese authorities tried to introduce Japanese traditions and customs to Hong Kong students through
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#17327796693752596-446: A totally new design, depending on the government's discretion. Beginning in 2011, the entire HKT fleet will be refurbished over a period of seven years at a cost of $ 75 million HKD. The trams will keep their original exterior design, but the outer teak structures will be replaced with aluminium structures. The benches on the lower decks of the trams will be replaced with modern-looking single seats. Digital broadcasts will be placed inside
2714-435: Is 115 people. Previously, the average tram speed was around 30 kilometres per hour (19 mph). Since early 2008, the speed of the trams was increased. The tram's general speed is currently around 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph). Most of the trams have a maximum speed of more than 50 kilometres per hour (31 mph), while some have a maximum speed of 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph). Hong Kong people informally call
2832-491: Is a track gauge of 1,000 mm ( 3 ft 3 + 3 ⁄ 8 in ). It has about 95,000 km (59,000 mi) of track. According to Italian law, track gauges in Italy were defined from the centre of each rail rather than the inside edges of the rails. This gauge, measured 950 mm ( 3 ft 1 + 3 ⁄ 8 in ) between the edges of the rails, is known as Italian metre gauge . There were
2950-552: Is one of the most environmentally friendly ways of travelling in the city. In 1881, Hon. F. Bulkeley Johnson, with the support of Ng Choy , proposed a Bill for the construction of a tramway system in Hong Kong . The following year, the Hong Kong Government published the preliminary Tramways Ordinance, which included six tramlines. However, the focus was primarily on the Peak Tram , which was of greater interest to
3068-488: Is one where the distance between the inside edges of the rails is less than 1,435 mm ( 4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ). Historically, the term was sometimes used to refer to what are now standard-gauge railways , to distinguish them from broad-gauge railways , but this use no longer applies. The earliest recorded railway appears in Georgius Agricola 's 1556 De re metallica , which shows
3186-556: The South China Morning Post . It became the mouthpiece of the Japanese propaganda. Ten local Chinese newspapers had been reduced to five in May. These newspapers were under press censorship. Radio sets were used for Japanese propaganda. Amusements still existed, though only for those who could afford them. The cinemas only screened Japanese films, such as The Battle of Hong Kong , the only film made in Hong Kong during
3304-709: The 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet . Originally formed by Zeng Sheng ( 曾生 ) in Guangdong in 1939, this group mainly comprised peasants, students, and seamen, including Yuan Geng . When the war reached Hong Kong in 1941, the guerrilla force grew from 200 to more than 6,000 soldiers. In January 1942, the Guangdong people's anti-Japanese East River guerrillas ( 廣東人民抗日游擊隊東江縱隊 ) was established to reinforce anti-Japanese forces in Dongjiang and Zhujiang Pearl River deltas. The guerrillas' most significant contribution to
3422-668: The Allies , in particular, was their rescue of twenty American pilots who parachuted into Kowloon when their planes were shot down by the Japanese. In the wake of the British retreat , the guerrillas picked up abandoned weapons and established bases in the New Territories and Kowloon. Applying the tactics of guerrilla warfare, they killed Chinese traitors and collaborators. They protected traders in Kowloon and Guangzhou , attacked
3540-731: The Gloucester Hotel became the Matsubara . The Peninsula Hotel, the Matsumoto; Lane Crawford , Matsuzakaya . The Queen's was renamed first the Nakajima Theatre, then the Meiji Theatre. Their propaganda also pointed to the pre-eminence of the Japanese way of life, of Japanese spiritual values and the ills of western materialism . Government House , the residence of British governors prior to occupation,
3658-1021: The Isle of Man . 900 mm was a common gauge in Europe. Swedish three-foot-gauge railways ( 891 mm or 2 ft 11 + 3 ⁄ 32 in ) are unique to that country and were once common all over the country. Today the only 891 mm line that remains apart from heritage railways is Roslagsbanan , a commuter line that connects Stockholm to its northeastern suburbs. A few railways and tramways were built to 2 ft 9 in ( 838 mm ) gauge, including Nankai Main Line (later converted to 3 ft 6 in or 1,067 mm ), Ocean Pier Railway at Atlantic City , Seaton Tramway ( converted from 2 ft ) and Waiorongomai Tramway . 800 mm ( 2 ft 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ) gauge railways are commonly used for rack railways . Imperial 2 ft 6 in ( 762 mm ) gauge railways were generally constructed in
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3776-590: The Japanese Military Yen . The exchange rate was fixed at 2 Hong Kong dollars to one military yen in January 1942. Later, the yen was re-valued at 4 Hong Kong dollars to a yen in July 1942, which meant local people could exchange fewer military notes than before. While the residents of Hong Kong were impoverished by the inequitable and forcibly imposed exchange rate, the Imperial Japanese government sold
3894-580: The Japanese occupation of Malaya , as well as other attacks including attacking the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor and American-ruled Philippines , and the Japanese invasion of Thailand . As part of a general Pacific campaign, the Japanese launched an assault on Hong Kong on the morning of 8 December 1941. British , Canadian , and Indian forces, supported by the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Forces attempted to resist
4012-539: The Kai Tak Airport , the Japanese demolished the Sung Wong Toi Monument in today's Kowloon City . Buildings of prestigious secondary schools such as Wah Yan College Hong Kong , Diocesan Boys' School , Central British School , St. Paul's Girls' College , and La Salle College were commandeered by occupying forces as military hospitals. It was rumoured that Diocesan Boys' School was used by
4130-496: The Surrender of Japan (15 August 1945) and formal surrender of Hong Kong to Rear Admiral Sir Cecil Harcourt (16 September 1945), fifteen Japanese soldiers arrested, tortured and executed around three hundred villagers of Silver Mine District of Lantau Island as retaliation after being ambushed by Chinese guerrillas. The incident was later referred as Silver Mine Bay massacre ( 銀礦灣大屠殺 ) by locals. The 38th Infantry Division ,
4248-487: The UK , designed to serve first-class passengers only. Service was limited to North Point due to the gradient at Taikoo Hill. A trolley reverser was installed at Causeway Road for emergency purposes in 1966. The last trailer built by HKT was withdrawn in 1978. In 1969, a few experimental liveries were tested on tramcars. Female conductors were introduced in 1971. Class distinction was abolished in 1972, and passengers boarded at
4366-771: The Wirral Tramway in Birkenhead , England , in 1992. Points automation was introduced in place of points men’s cabins. In 1993, HKT built two maximum traction bogies for testing. Testing of pantographs on trams began in 1994. Double platforms were introduced at the Happy Valley terminus in 1995. The final year of The Most Attractive Tram Ads Competition was in 1997. Coloured destination blinds were introduced in 1998. HKT launched new “Millennium” trams designed and manufactured by its own engineering team on October 24, 2000. The Octopus electronic smart card payment system
4484-659: The governor of Hong Kong , Sir Mark Young , surrendered the British Crown colony of Hong Kong to the Empire of Japan on 25 December 1941. His surrender occurred after 18 days of fierce fighting against the Imperial Japanese Army that invaded the territory. The occupation lasted for three years and eight months until Japan surrendered at the end of the Second World War . The length of
4602-587: The 500mm gauge tracks of their mine railway ; these locomotives were made by the Deutz Gas Engine Company ( Gasmotorenfabrik Deutz ), now Deutz AG . Another early use of internal combustion was to power a narrow-gauge locomotive was in 1902. F. C. Blake built a 7 hp petrol locomotive for the Richmond Main Sewerage Board sewage plant at Mortlake . This 2 ft 9 in ( 838 mm ) gauge locomotive
4720-581: The Governor's Office and its various bureaus. Two councils of Chinese and Eurasian leaders were set up to manage the Chinese population. All trade and economic activities were strictly regulated by Japanese authorities, who took control of the majority of the factories. Having deprived vendors and banks of their possessions, the occupying forces outlawed the Hong Kong Dollar and replaced it with
4838-603: The Hong Kong Dollar to help finance their war-time economy. In June 1943, the military yen was made the sole legal tender . Prices of commodities for sale had to be marked in yen. Hyper-inflation then disrupted the economy, inflicting hardship upon the residents of the colony. Enormous devaluation of the Imperial Japanese Military Yen after the war made it almost worthless. Public transportation and utilities unavoidably failed, owing to
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4956-676: The Hong Kong area from October 1942. Most of these raids involved a small number of aircraft, and typically targeted Japanese cargo ships which had been reported by Chinese guerrillas. By January 1945 the city was being regularly raided by the USAAF. The largest raid on Hong Kong took place on 16 January 1945 when, as part of the South China Sea raid , 471 United States Navy aircraft attacked shipping, harbour facilities and other targets. The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong ended in 1945, after Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945. Hong Kong
5074-576: The Imperial Japanese influence on Hong Kong, two Imperial Japanese banks, the Yokohama Specie Bank and the Bank of Taiwan , were re-opened. These two banks replaced the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and two other British banks responsible for issuing the banknotes. They then liquidated various Allied banks. British, American and Dutch bankers were forced to live in
5192-553: The Imperial Japanese occupation, Hong Kong was ruled under martial law as an occupied territory. Led by General Rensuke Isogai , the Japanese established their administrative centre and military headquarters at the Peninsula Hotel in Kowloon. The military government; comprising administrative, civilian affairs, economic, judicial, and naval departments; enacted stringent regulations and, through executive bureaux, exercised power over all residents of Hong Kong. They also set up
5310-447: The Japanese as an execution site. Life was difficult for Hong Kong people under Japanese rule. As there was inadequate food supply, the Japanese rationed necessities such as rice, oil, flour, salt, and sugar. Each family was given a rationing licence, and every person could only buy 6.4 taels (240 g (8.5 oz)) of rice per day. Most people did not have enough food to eat, and many died of starvation. The rationing system
5428-537: The Japanese influence over Hong Kong. For instance, there was Yasukuri or Shrine Festival honouring the dead. There was also a Japanese Empire Day on 11 February 1943 centred around the worship of the Emperor Jimmu . The Hong Kong News , a pre-war Japanese-owned English newspaper, was revived in January 1942 during the Japanese occupation. The editor, E.G. Ogura, was Japanese and the staff members were mainly Chinese and Portuguese who previously worked for
5546-599: The Japanese lessons at school. Famous historical stories such as Mōri Motonari 's " Sanbon no ya (Three Arrows)" and Xufu 's ( 徐福 ) voyage to Japan were introduced in Japanese language textbooks. The primary aim of the Japanisation of the education system was to facilitate Japanese control over the territory's populace in furtherence of the establishment of the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere . By 1943, in stark contrast to
5664-525: The Japanese occupation, a total of 20,000 Hong Kong people and 20,000 mainlanders were abducted to mine in Hainan Island, where they were abused and many died of starvation.Of the 40,000 Chinese workers on Hainan Island, only 5,000 survived. On the afternoon of 1 December 1944, a woman went out to collect firewood sticks on the side of the mountain. Suddenly, a Japanese military police and two Chinese police officers came to arrest her and stabbed her in
5782-567: The Japanese occupation. Directed by Shigeo Tanaka ( 田中重雄 Tanaka Shigeo ) and produced by the Dai Nippon Film Company , the film featured an all-Japanese cast but a few Hong Kong film personalities were also involved. This film appeared on the first anniversary of the attack. In 1941, the Japanese army transported a carload of people to the beach near the Queen Mary Hospital and killed them all. Identities of
5900-408: The Japanese tried to foster favourable view amongst residents of the occupation. This process of Japanisation prevailed in many aspects of daily life. It was the Japanese conviction that education was key to securing their influence over the populace. The Japanese language became a mandatory subject in schools, and students who performed poorly in Japanese exams risked corporal punishment. According to
6018-662: The Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan termini. Some sections of MTR tunnels are built directly under roads with tram tracks. Many HKT stops are near MTR stations. Ferry terminals can be accessed from the tram line via footbridges, such as the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal and the Central Ferry Piers . The latter contains Star Ferry Pier , which is one of the stops for the Star Ferry . HKT has
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#17327796693756136-952: The Philippines demonstrate that if track is built to a heavy-duty standard, performance almost as good as a standard-gauge line is possible. Two-hundred-car trains operate on the Sishen–Saldanha railway line in South Africa, and high-speed Tilt Trains run in Queensland. In South Africa and New Zealand, the loading gauge is similar to the restricted British loading gauge; in New Zealand, some British Rail Mark 2 carriages have been rebuilt with new bogies for use by Tranz Scenic (Wellington-Palmerston North service), Tranz Metro (Wellington-Masterton service), and Auckland One Rail (Auckland suburban services). Another example of
6254-457: The Police into five divisions, namely East Hong Kong, West Hong Kong, Kowloon, New Territories and Water Police. This force was headed by Colonel Noma Kennosuke . The headquarters was situated in the former Supreme Court Building . Police in Hong Kong were under the organisation and control of the Imperial Japanese government. Imperial Japanese experts and administrators were chiefly employed in
6372-549: The Sharp Street Depot was closed in 1989, the site was expanded by 1.28 hectares (3.2 acres). It has a two-storey workshop with capacity of over 100 trams. Sai Wan Ho Depot opened on 28 April 1989 and occupies a site of 0.7 hectares (1.7 acres) leased from the government on a 5-year renewable tenancy. It lies beneath the Island Eastern Corridor near Shau Kei Wan Road and Hoi Foo Street. It has
6490-769: The Stanley Internment Camp in 1945. Moreover, the Imperial Japanese military government blockaded Victoria Harbour and controlled various warehouses in and around the city. Early in January 1942, former members of the Hong Kong Police , including Indians and Chinese, were recruited into a reformed police called the Kempeitai with new uniforms . The police routinely performed executions at King's Park in Kowloon by using Chinese for beheading, shooting and bayonet practice. The Imperial Japanese gendarmerie took over all police stations and organised
6608-476: The US Pacific Fleet in the sea off Zhoushan, Zhejiang. The ship sank on 2 October. Although some prisoners of war swam out of the cabin to escape, the Japanese soldiers on the adjacent ships shot and killed the escaped prisoners, resulting in about 1,000 deaths and 384 injuries. In July 1944, about 400 refugees were found on the Beaufort Island where there were few plants or animals. They were left to fend for themselves. According to residents of Cape D'Aguilar in
6726-473: The back.Two other elderly women who were arrested at the same time were also stabbed in the back. They were immediately taken to the Aberdeen Police Station and imprisoned. During the period, they were not provided with food and water. They were taken to the North Point Refugee Camp on 2 December. There were also many prisoners in the camp, and the camp gate was guarded by Japanese military police and Chinese police with weapons. Some said there were only two meals
6844-402: The census. On 25 September 1942, the Japanese army brought 1,816 prisoners of war from the Sham Shui Po prisoner of war camp to the freighter "Lisbon Maru" moored at Stonecutters Island , and set sail two days later to transport the prisoners of war to Japan for hard labor. The Japanese army did not mark the ship as transporting POWs. Lisbon Maru was torpedoed by the submarine USS Grouper of
6962-813: The coal industry. Some sugar cane lines in Cuba were 2 ft 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ( 699 mm ). 2 ft ( 610 mm ) gauge railways were generally constructed in the former British colonies. The U.S. had a number of railways of that gauge , including several in the state of Maine such as the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway . 1 ft 11 + 3 ⁄ 4 in ( 603 mm ), 600 mm ( 1 ft 11 + 5 ⁄ 8 in ) and 1 ft 11 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ( 597 mm ) were used in Europe. Gauges below 1 ft 11 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ( 597 mm ) were rare. Arthur Percival Heywood developed 15 in ( 381 mm ) gauge estate railways in Britain and Decauville produced
7080-410: The day was known as "Black Christmas". The surrender of Hong Kong was signed on the 26th at The Peninsula Hotel . On 20 February 1942 General Rensuke Isogai became the first Imperial Japanese governor of Hong Kong. This ushered in almost four years of Imperial Japanese administration, which they used the city as a naval and logistics base for their campaign in the western Pacific. Throughout
7198-509: The depot. These cars included ten combination cars with enclosed saloons and open ends and platforms, and sixteen crossbench cars. Fares for first and third class were ten cents and five cents respectively, with preferential fares for workers on workmen’s cars from 1904 to 1909. In 1910, the company name was changed to “Hong Kong Tramway Company Limited.” Due to increasing ridership, ten double-deckers were introduced in 1912, featuring an open-top design with destination boxes and reversible seats on
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#17327796693757316-455: The development of Tuen Mun New Town in the 1970s, the government reserved space for the construction of a rail transportation system. In 1982, the government invited HKT to construct and operate a tram system in the area. HKT initially expressed interest in the construction of the railway and intended to operate it with double-decker trams, but later withdrew. The government then invited Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation to construct and operate
7434-439: The distance travelled. There is also an option for monthly tickets, which cost $ 260 are sold at the Shek Tong Tsui , Causeway Bay , and North Point termini at the end of each month. Passengers pay upon alighting by either depositing the exact fare in coins into the farebox, with a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, JCB and UnionPay), mobile wallet e.g. Apple Pay , Google Pay , Alipay or using an Octopus card . Turnstiles at
7552-418: The earliest forms of public transport in the metropolis, having opened in 1904 under British rule. It has used electric trams since its inauguration, and has never used horse or steam power. It owns the world's largest operational double-decker tram fleet, and is a very rare example of a tram system that uses them exclusively. In addition to being used by commuters , the system is popular with tourists, and
7670-413: The escape. A team of amateur archaeologists found the remains of half of a badge. Evidence pointed to its belonging to Barclay, the captain of the Royal Army Medical Corps , therefore the archaeologists presented it to Barclay's son, Jim, who had never met his father before his death. Other notable massacres near the end of the Battle of Hong Kong including the St. Stephen's College massacre . Between
7788-427: The fastest train in Australia and the fastest 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm ) gauge train in the world, set a record of 210 km/h (130 mph). The speed record for 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm ) narrow-gauge rail is 245 km/h (152 mph), set in South Africa in 1978. A special 2 ft ( 610 mm ) gauge railcar was built for the Otavi Mining and Railway Company with
7906-434: The first new design constructed by HKT, entered service. The last single-track was replaced by double-track, and annual ridership exceeded 100 million. In 1950, HKT rebuilt the entire fleet in collaboration with Taikoo Dockyard . The Russell Street Depot was rebuilt and renamed Sharp Street Depot in 1951. The Causeway Bay loop was closed in 1953, and the new North Point terminus was put into use. The first official route map
8024-479: The first transport operator in Hong Kong to do so. The first sightseeing car was launched in January, and the first air-conditioned car in June 2016. In 2017, HKT rebranded with a new logo, new livery, and new map. The fourth party tram was launched in 2018. HKT celebrated 115 years of service with a series of events in 2019, including the introduction of the Bright Ring Tram. Day running lights were introduced on trams in 2020 for better night service, and Ding Ding Cat
8142-422: The former British colonies . 760 mm Bosnian gauge and 750 mm railways are predominantly found in Russia and Eastern Europe. Gauges such as 2 ft 3 in ( 686 mm ), 2 ft 4 in ( 711 mm ) and 2 ft 4 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ( 724 mm ) were used in parts of the UK, particularly for railways in Wales and the borders, with some industrial use in
8260-402: The government and business interests residing on Victoria Peak , leading to the neglect of the tram proposal along Hong Kong Island . Between 1883 and 1888, the population of Hong Kong increased from 173,475 to 215,800. The government hoped that the tram system would provide quick access to all areas of Victoria and reduce dependence on chair coolies. The Bill underwent several readings and
8378-469: The guerrillas were noteworthy in rescuing prisoners-of-war, notably Sir Lindsay Ride , Sir Douglas Clague , Professor Gordan King , and David Bosanquet . In December 1943 the Guangdong force reformed, with the East River guerrillas absorbing the HK-Kowloon brigade into the larger unit. The British Army Aid Group was formed in 1942 at the suggestion of Colonel Lindsay Ride. The group rescued allied POWs, including airmen shot down and workers trapped in
8496-529: The high reparation costs forced them to promote fundraising activities like musical performances and dramas. Tung Wah Hospital and the charitable organisation Po Leung Kuk continued to provide charity relief, while substantial donations were given by members of the Chinese elite. Po Leung Kuk also took in orphans, but were faced with financial problems during the occupation, as their bank deposits could not be withdrawn under Japanese control. Their services could only be continued through donations by Aw Boon Haw ,
8614-583: The interrogations were conducted by the Japanese military police only. There were no judges, lawyers, and observers. In March 1942, 484 civilians who had been imprisoned at the Hop Kee Company on Gloucester Road, Wanchai, were deported to Hainan Island via the Japanese cargo ship Yuen Lam for forced labour. After the Liberation of Hong Kong, only a hundred people were able to return. More than 300 people died of torture and starvation. During
8732-555: The middle of the road on sheltered refugee islands, which are accessed by pedestrian crossings or footbridges. Track crossovers near the Davis Street, Eastern Street , Pedder Street , Admiralty MTR station , Gresson Street , Victoria Park , North Point Road, and Mount Parker Road stops are used in emergency situations, such as en-route traffic accidents. The majority of HKT stops have remained unchanged since their establishment, but some have had name changes. The Pedder Street stop
8850-403: The middle of the roadway. Passengers need to cross lanes for motor vehicles to board or alight from trams. Drivers of motor vehicles must stop behind the yellow 'stop' line at such stations and give way to pedestrians crossing to or from the tram, and must wait until there are no more passengers getting on or off the tram. The Island line of the MTR is roughly parallel to the tram line between
8968-492: The nearby region, they often heard screams and cries coming from the island. Skeletons were found all over the area later on, most died from starvation or drowning in failed escape. During the Japanese occupation, most people released from the Station died soon after, and it is estimated that more than 100 died due to starvation or torture. The police also transported some prisoners directly for execution without trials. Most of
9086-576: The occasion demands" and "it would be easier for Cantonese people to learn Japanese than Japanese people to learn Cantonese". The Japanese promoted the use of Japanese as the lingua franca between the locals and the occupying forces. English shop signs and advertisements were banned and, in April 1942, streets and buildings in Central were renamed in Japanese. For example, Queen's Road became Meiji -dori and Des Voeux Road became Shōwa -dori. Similarly,
9204-626: The occupied colony. It also developed a role in intelligence gathering. In the process, the Group provided protection to the Dongjiang River which was a source for domestic water in Hong Kong. This was the first organisation in which Britons, Chinese and other nationalities served with no racial divide. Francis Lee Yiu-pui and Paul Tsui Ka-cheung were commissioned as officers. United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) units based in China attacked
9322-510: The period ( 三年零八個月 , lit. ' three years and eight months ' ) later became a metonym of the occupation. During the Imperial Japanese military's full-scale invasion of China in 1937, Hong Kong as part of the British Empire was not under attack. Nevertheless, its situation was influenced by the war in China due to proximity to the mainland China. In early March 1939, during an Imperial Japanese bombing raid on Shenzhen ,
9440-860: The police station at Tai Po , and bombed Kai Tak Airport. During the Japanese occupation the only fortified resistance was mounted by the East River guerrillas. In January 1942, the HK-Kowloon Brigade ( 港九大隊 ) was established from the Guangdong People's anti-Japanese guerrilla force. In February 1942, with local residents Choi Kwok-Leung ( 蔡國梁 ) as commander and Chan Tat-Ming ( 陳達明 ) as political commissar, they were armed with 30 machine guns and several hundred rifles left by defeated British forces. They numbered about 400 between 1942 and 1945 and operated in Sai Kung . Additionally,
9558-449: The puppet Chinese Representative Council and Chinese Cooperative Council , consisting of local leading Chinese and Eurasian community leaders. In addition to Governor Mark Young, 7,000 British soldiers and civilians were kept in prisoner-of-war or internment camps, such as Sham Shui Po Prisoner Camp and Stanley Internment Camp . Famine, malnourishment and sickness were pervasive. Severe cases of malnutrition among inmates occurred in
9676-469: The rapidly advancing Japanese, but were heavily outnumbered. After racing down the New Territories and Kowloon , Japanese forces crossed Victoria Harbour on 18 December. After fierce fighting continued on Hong Kong Island on 25 December 1941, British colonial officials headed by the governor of Hong Kong , Mark Aitchison Young , surrendered at the Japanese headquarters. To the local people,
9794-547: The rear and paid as they left (PAYL). HKT was acquired by The Wharf (Holdings) in 1974. The first full-body adverts were applied on trams in 1975. Fareboxes were installed at each tram front exit, and rotating turnstiles were fitted at the rear entrance in 1976. Trams were operated in one-man-operation (OMO), and conductors were no longer needed and shifted to become motormen. Tram no.163, rebuilt from trailer 1, entered service in 1979. Trailers were withdrawn from service in 1982. Route maps were introduced on tram stops in 1983. Car 12
9912-550: The same narrow gauge as the mine railways from which they developed. The world's first steam locomotive , built in 1802 by Richard Trevithick for the Coalbrookdale Company, ran on a 3 ft ( 914 mm ) plateway . The first commercially successful steam locomotive was Matthew Murray 's Salamanca built in 1812 for the 4 ft 1 in ( 1,245 mm ) Middleton Railway in Leeds . Salamanca
10030-424: The sea. On 19 December 1941, a group of Japanese soldiers killed ten St. John stretcher bearers at Wong Nai Chung Gap despite the fact that all the stretcher bearers wore the red cross armband . These soldiers captured a further five medics who were tied to a tree , two of whom were taken away by the soldiers, never to be seen again. The remaining three attempted to escape during the night, but only one survived
10148-457: The shortage of fuel and the aerial bombardment of Hong Kong by the Americans. Tens of thousands of people became homeless and helpless, and many of them were employed in shipbuilding and construction. In the agricultural field, the Imperial Japanese took over the race track at Fanling and the air strip at Kam Tin for their rice-growing experiments. With the intention of boosting
10266-522: The successful imposition of the Japanese language upon the local populace, only one formal language school, the Bougok School ( 寳覺學校 ), was providing Cantonese language courses to Japanese people in Hong Kong. According to an instructor at the Bougok School, "teaching Cantonese is difficult because there is no system and set pattern in Cantonese grammar; and you have to change the pronunciation as
10384-475: The traffic potential would not justify the cost of a standard- or broad-gauge line. Narrow-gauge railways have specialised use in mines and other environments where a small structure gauge necessitates a small loading gauge . In some countries, narrow gauge is the standard: Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, New Zealand, South Africa, and the Australian states of Queensland , Western Australia and Tasmania have
10502-686: The tram entrances and closed-circuit television are installed to prevent fare evasion by passengers. Sightseeing tours are available on antique-style tramcar No. 68, which has an open balcony and a historical exhibit on board. Sightseeing tram boarding and alighting take place at the sightseeing tour termini: Western Market and Causeway Bay . Standard tramcars and antique-style, open-balcony tramcars No. 18, No. 28, No. 68, and No. 128 are available for private charter. Charter tram boarding and alighting take place at Whitty Street Depot, except for premium charter tramcar No. 18; its boarding and alighting takes place at Western Market Terminus. The trams run on
10620-466: The trams in one generation were simply modifications of the previous, such as open-balcony tramcars fitted with canvas roofs and then wooden roofs. The term "generation" should only apply to the new designs. Whitty Street Depot , which opened on 27 May 1989 and is located in Shek Tong Tsui , is the main depot for current operations and trams overhaul. It previously operated as a terminus. When
10738-492: The trams to inform passengers of the next stop, and LED lighting will be installed. AC motors will replace the current DC motors and a new magnetic emergency braking system will be added. During the 1910s, HKT proposed the Kowloon Tramways Project. However, the completion of KCR Railway caused the government to veto the plan. In 1970, Chai Wan on the east side of Hong Kong Island was developed into
10856-445: The tramway the "Ding Ding" and the trams as "Ding Dings", in reference to the double-bell ring used by the trams to warn pedestrians of their approach. Relative to buses and the subway system, trams are often the cheapest public transportation option. As of 8th August 2024, HKT fares are $ 3.0 for adults, $ 1.5 for children, and $ 1.3 for senior citizens. Unlike most forms of public transport in Hong Kong, HKT fares are uniform regardless of
10974-493: The unit mainly responsible for capturing Hong Kong, departed in January 1942. The Hong Kong Defence Force was established during the same month, and was the main Japanese military unit in Hong Kong throughout the occupation. The other Japanese military units stationed in Hong Kong from early 1942 were the small Hong Kong Artillery Force and the Imperial Japanese Navy 's Hong Kong Base Force, which formed part of
11092-576: The upper deck. By 1913, open-top cars were fitted with canvas roofs for wet weather protection, and the first dividend was paid by HKT for the year 1912. The Happy Valley track was extended by 600 yards. In 1914, the London Board was disbanded and replaced by a Hong Kong Board with local Directors. In 1922, HKT stopped generating its own electricity and obtained its supply from the Hong Kong Electric Company . The company name
11210-454: The victims are still unknown. On 19 May 1942, 10,000 refugees were detained by the Japanese army and escorted to the Sai Wan , where they boarded the ships. When they boarded the ship, each was given a jar of rice weighing about two kilograms, two pieces of bread, and ten Hong Kong dollars. After boarding the ship, the refugees were locked in the bilge. A total of nineteen ships were towed by
11328-616: The world; 19th-century mountain logging operations often used narrow-gauge railways to transport logs from mill to market. Significant sugarcane railways still operate in Cuba, Fiji, Java, the Philippines, and Queensland, and narrow-gauge railway equipment remains in common use for building tunnels. In 1897, a manganese mine in the Lahn valley in Germany was using two benzine -fueled locomotives with single cylinder internal combustion engines on
11446-662: Was abolished in 1944. According to eyewitnesses, the Japanese committed atrocities against many locals, including the rape of many ethnic Chinese women. During the three years and eight months of occupation, an estimated 10,000 civilians were executed, while many others were tortured, raped, or mutilated. Between the Surrender of Japan (15 August 1945) and formal surrender of Hong Kong to Rear Admiral Sir Cecil Harcourt (16 September 1945), fifteen Japanese soldiers arrested, tortured, and executed around three hundred villagers of Silver Mine District of Lantau Island in retaliation for being ambushed by Chinese guerrillas. The incident
11564-525: Was adopted by early 19th-century railways, primarily in the Lanarkshire area of Scotland. 4 ft 6 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ( 1,384 mm ) lines were also constructed, and both were eventually converted to standard gauge. 1,067 mm ( 3 ft 6 in ) between the inside of the rail heads, its name and classification vary worldwide and it has about 112,000 kilometres (70,000 mi) of track. As its name implies, metre gauge
11682-611: Was also the first rack-and-pinion locomotive. During the 1820s and 1830s, a number of industrial narrow-gauge railways in the United Kingdom used steam locomotives. In 1842, the first narrow-gauge steam locomotive outside the UK was built for the 1,100 mm ( 3 ft 7 + 5 ⁄ 16 in )-gauge Antwerp-Ghent Railway in Belgium. The first use of steam locomotives on a public, passenger-carrying narrow-gauge railway
11800-478: Was changed to “Hong Kong Tramways Limited” (HKT). Wooden roofs were progressively fitted on tramcars in 1923, and double track construction between Causeway Bay and Shau Kei Wan commenced in 1924. Enclosed double-decker trams with a new green livery were introduced in 1925, along with a waiting room for first-class passengers. In 1927, sided indicators were fitted on tramcars, and in 1928, HKT commenced operation on island and Kowloon buses. The Shau Kei Wan loop
11918-732: Was closed on 20 March 1989. The site is now occupied by the Times Square complex. In 2010, HKT appointed a consultancy firm to investigate the feasibility of constructing a 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) modern tramway system in the Kai Tak Development , built on the vacated site of the former Kai Tak Airport , in place of the Environmentally Friendly Linkage System monorail proposed by the Hong Kong Government. A proposal
12036-514: Was employed as the tram ambassador. HKT achieved the Guinness World Record for the “Largest double-decker tram fleet in service” in 2021. A total of 10 fare free days were organized in 2022 with favorable responses, and new fares were applied on July 11. In 2024, HKT celebrated 120 years of service. On average, the headway between each tram departure is approximately 1.5 minutes during peak hours. The maximum capacity of each tram
12154-431: Was exported for Expo’ 86 in 1985. Tram refurbishment began in 1986, and the first tour tram No.28 was launched. The second tour tram No.128 was launched in 1987. The Sharp Street Depot was closed in 1989, and new depots were relocated at Whitty Street and Sai Wan Ho . Trial runs on overnight service began in 1990. A new built tram 120 replaced the 1949 prototype in 1991. Two HKT-built double-decker tramcars were exported to
12272-917: Was finally passed on May 23, 1902, as the Tramways Ordinance (No. 10 of 1902). In 1902, the Hong Kong Tramway Electric Company Limited was founded in London and came under the control of the Electric Traction Company of Hong Kong Limited by the end of the year. Track construction began in stages from Happy Valley , Causeway Bay to Shau Kei Wan in September 1903, and was connected westbound to Arsenal Street by August 1904. Regular tram service commenced on July 30, 1904, with twenty-six single-deck cars delivered in sections and assembled in
12390-536: Was handed over by the Imperial Japanese Army to the Royal Navy on 30 August 1945; British control over Hong Kong was thus restored. 30 August was declared as " Liberation Day " (Chinese: 重光紀念日 ), and was a public holiday in Hong Kong until 1997. General Takashi Sakai , who led the invasion of Hong Kong and subsequently served as governor-general during the Japanese occupation, was tried as
12508-560: Was in 1865, when the Ffestiniog Railway introduced passenger service after receiving its first locomotives two years earlier. Many narrow-gauge railways were part of industrial enterprises and served primarily as industrial railways , rather than general carriers. Common uses for these industrial narrow-gauge railways included mining, logging, construction, tunnelling, quarrying, and conveying agricultural products. Extensive narrow-gauge networks were constructed in many parts of
12626-461: Was introduced on trams in 2001. HKT celebrated 100 years of service in 2004. Route maps were reinstalled at each tram stop, and new tram driving panels were introduced on November 7, 2007. Air conditioning was installed on tour tram 128 in 2008. In 2009, a 50% stake and operating rights were obtained by Veolia Transport RATP Asia (now RATP Dev Transdev Asia), followed by full ownership in 2010. HKT launched Signature trams on November 28, 2011, featuring
12744-552: Was later expanded and renamed Sharp Street Depot . North Point Depot closed in 1951; its former location is now the site of the Healthy Gardens complex. In July 1986, the Executive Council approved HKT's plan to establish new depots at Shek Tong Tsui and Sai Wan Ho. HKT claimed that $ 3.5 million in operating costs would be saved. HKT promised that fares would be unchanged until the end of 1988. Sharp Street Depot
12862-668: Was later referred by locals as the Silver Mine Bay massacre ( 銀礦灣大屠殺 ). During the occupation, hospitals available to the masses were limited. The Kowloon Hospital and Queen Mary Hospital were occupied by the Japanese army. Despite the lack of medicine and funds, the Tung Wah and Kwong Wah Hospital continued their social services but on a limited scale. These included provision of food, medicine, clothing, and burial services. Although funds were provided, they still had great financial difficulties. Failure to collect rents and
12980-553: Was neutral and opposition to Nazi Germany was given only by Britain, the British Commonwealth and the Soviet Union. The United States provided minor support to China in its fight against Imperial Japan's invasion. It imposed an embargo on the sale of oil to Japan after less aggressive forms of economic sanctions failed to halt Japanese advances. On 7 December 1941 (Honolulu time), Japan entered World War II with
13098-441: Was previously named Shu Shun Kwun ( 書信館 ), which referred to a now-demolished former General Post Office building . Most of the tram stops have dedicated platforms, albeit narrow, for passengers to wait for trams. However, 6 stops, namely Kennedy Town Praya, Hong Kong Cemetery, Wong Nai Chung Road, Nam Hong Street, Chai Wan Road, and the alighting stop of Shau Kei Wan Terminus, have no dedicated platforms and are instead located in
13216-513: Was printed for passengers in 1954, and the North Point Depot was closed in 1955. New resilient wheels from Sweden were introduced in 1956 to improve riding quality. By 1959, all cars had half-drop windows for the driver. Tram service was suspended under typhoon Ellen in 1961. The first single-deck prototype trailer was introduced in 1964, and the first tram overturned accident occurred. In 1965, ten additional trailers were ordered from
13334-649: Was probably the third petrol-engined locomotive built. Extensive narrow-gauge rail systems served the front-line trenches of both sides in World War I . They were a short-lived military application, and after the war the surplus equipment created a small boom in European narrow-gauge railway building. The heavy-duty 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm ) narrow-gauge railways in Australia (Queensland), New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia and
13452-438: Was provided, with one single-decker used for freight transport. Service was suspended in 1944 due to a fuel shortage. After the occupation, only 15 tramcars were operational out of 112. By October 1945, 40 tramcars were back in daytime service only. Tram service gradually resumed, with flat fares of 20 cents for first class and 10 cents for third class. The relaying of double track at Causeway Bay began in 1948, and in 1949, Car 120,
13570-428: Was put into service in 1929. The North Point Depot was under construction in 1932 and completed in 1938. Refuge islands were introduced at some busy tram stops in 1934 to increase passenger safety. Tram fares were reduced in 1936 to compete with buses, and during Coronation week in 1937, a million ridership was carried. Air brakes were fitted on tramcars in 1939. During the Japanese occupation in 1941, limited service
13688-1165: Was reported that HKT suspended a speed monitoring programme intended to discourage drivers from travelling too slowly. 22°17′18″N 114°08′16″E / 22.2883°N 114.1377°E / 22.2883; 114.1377 Narrow-gauge railway A narrow-gauge railway ( narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than 1,435 mm ( 4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ) standard gauge . Most narrow-gauge railways are between 600 mm ( 1 ft 11 + 5 ⁄ 8 in ) and 1,067 mm ( 3 ft 6 in ). Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves , smaller structure gauges , and lighter rails ; they can be less costly to build, equip, and operate than standard- or broad-gauge railways (particularly in mountainous or difficult terrain). Lower-cost narrow-gauge railways are often used in mountainous terrain, where engineering savings can be substantial. Lower-cost narrow-gauge railways are often built to serve industries as well as sparsely populated communities where
13806-545: Was submitted to the Development Bureau on 29 April 2013. HKT pointed out that the cost of constructing the proposed tram system is $ 2.8 billion, which is less than the $ 12 billion needed for a monorail system. Possible extensions to neighbouring places such as To Kwa Wan , Kowloon City , and Kwun Tong were suggested. Bruno Charrade, managing director of HKT, said that the new system's tramcars could be designed to resemble their Hong Kong Island counterparts or have
13924-504: Was the seat of power for the Japanese military governors. During the occupation, the buildings were largely reconstructed in 1944 following designs by Japanese engineer Siechi Fujimura , including the addition of a Japanese-style tower which remains to this day. Many Georgian architectural features were removed during this period. The roofs also continue to reflect a Japanese influence. The commemoration of Japanese festivals , state occasions, victories and anniversaries also strengthened
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