To combat the fire menace a lookout post was established on Kowloon Peak. Outbreaks can be seen from this post over very large areas of Hong Kong and the mainland and are immediately reported by telephone to Forestry headquarters before they can spread and cause extensive damage. Notices are also erected during the dry season warning the public of the danger of fires to the plantations, and fire barriers are being made throughout all the more important catchment areas. During 1951 approximately 300,000 trees were planted and at the end of the year the stock of seedlings in the nursery was over 760,000.
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION
The embargo
1951 was a difficult year for local manufacturers. imposed by the U.S. Government created serious difficulties in the supply of raw materials, which had in many cases to be obtained from alternative sources at higher prices. These in turn affected the costs of the finished products and made competition with Japanese goods even more difficult. To appreciate the difficulties of supply it must be remembered that few local factories carry stocks of raw materials. The usual practice when an enquiry is received is to obtain the raw material locally, the price of the product being related directly to the ruling market price for the raw material. For this reason, also, it is difficult for a local manufacturer to forecast his needs. Except for a few items such as enamelware and torches he does not produce for stock.
Imports of raw materials of a strategic nature are now subject to strict control by means of a system of Essential Supplies Certificates. This method of control has presented many difficulties in an economy such as Hong Kong's, but has ensured a certain level of supply, and gained the confidence of the countries which provide the raw material for the Colony's industries.
The 9th Annual Exhibition of Hong Kong Products, held under the auspices of the Chinese Manufacturers' Union, was opened on 14th December by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and proved that despite their difficulties local manufacturers are capable of producing a wide variety of goods of high standard. The Colony was again represented at the British Industries Fair, some 120 local merchants travelling to London for the occasion.
Certificates of Origin (and Imperial Preference Certificates) were issued in 1951 for goods valued at $311m. (19,437,000) an increase of $115m. over 1950. Of this figure $39m. represents goods exported to the U.S.A., the U.S. Government having made a Certificate of Origin mandatory since April in respect of locally manufactured goods. These figures do not however represent the total quantity of locally
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