REVIEW OF THE YEAR
I I
standard, and tourists might go away with a bad impression. This general view is now changing. As Hong Kong, with its entrepôt trade gravely curtailed, looks around for alter- native means of maintaining its livelihood, it has begun to develop a new attitude in regard to tourism. In fact, if account is taken of recreational visits by United States naval vessels, tourism has, in a very few years and almost imperceptibly, become one of Hong Kong's most important new industries. In July the Government, which has so far played no part in encouraging tourism, set up a Committee to make recommendations on whether a Tourist Association should be formed, and if so, what shape it should take. Some of the principal interests concerned are represented on the Com- mittee, the Secretary of which is a Government official.
The visit in April of the Cunard White Star liner Caronia on a luxury cruise, with over 500 tourists aboard, gave an idea of the advantages to be derived from the encouragement of this and other forms of tourism. It is likely, too, that added stimulus to tourist trade will result from the number of American motion pictures which are being made with their setting in Hong Kong. These films are giving to a wider public than ever before some idea of the Colony's outstanding natural beauty.
FOOD PRODUCTION
In an average year the Colony produces about 65% of all the vegetables it consumes. Considering the small amount of land available and suitable for vegetable-growing, this is a most satisfactory figure. The Government's general policy of encouraging agriculture took an important step forward this year, when a comprehensive plan for agricultural development was tabled in the Legislative Council and adopted in principle.
The somewhat unusual background of agricultural economy in the New Territories is described in the Occupa- tions, Wages and Labour Organization Chapter. The problem of bringing neglected areas under cultivation again, and generally putting New Territories agriculture on a sounder economic basis, has been greatly helped over the past few years by the generosity and interest of Messrs. Lawrence and Horace Kadoorie, whose Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Associa-