HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1953
duced by the Fisheries Division, has reached the stage when it can now be handed over to private enterprise. Oyster farmers have increased their activities during the year, following the inclusion of oyster and oyster products of Hong Kong origin on the list of imports allowed into the United States of America.
Further statistical data on the fishing industry is included in the marketing section, later in this chapter.
Mines
Before the war mining leases were granted for 'periods up to seventy five years. Both these and prospecting licences have, however, been discontinued pending the introduction of new mining legislation and temporary licences valid for six months are being granted. Royalties are payable at the rate of 5% of the f.o.b. price Hong Kong.
Apart from one pre-war European company, mining is carried on by local Chinese companies operating principally iron, lead and wolfram mines. Their production is all exported; iron ore to Japan and Formosa, lead ore to Europe and the United Kingdom, and wolfram concentrates to the United States of America. There are no processing plants in the Colony. Marketing of products is on contract c.i.f. terms and prices are paid on United States or European metal quotations. The Mines Sub-Department of the Labour Department was started in October, 1951. It is composed of the Superintendent of Mines, Assistant Superintendent of Mines and an Assistant Inspector of Mines, under the general control of the Commis- sioner of Labour. The initial policy of the Mines Sub- Department has been to control illicit mining and prepare a modern set of mining laws and regulations. Every effort is being made to introduce machinery and mechanize existing
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