PRODUCTION
83
loan society, but with the added function of purchasing consumer goods in bulk for re-sale to members.
The policy of the Cooperative and Marketing Depart- ment has been to ensure that developments are properly planned and economically sound, and to improve under- standing of cooperative principles in general. The growth of the cooperative movement in the Colony has been due in very large measure to encouragement given by the Govern- ment, to assistance and guidance by departmental officials, to Government financial aid, to the Fish and Vegetable Marketing Organizations, the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association Fund, and the J. E. Joseph Fund.
Figures of membership and finances of the cooperative societies will be found in Appendix XI.
MINING
There is mining of iron, lead, wolfram, graphite and kaolin clay. The production is nearly all exported: iron ore and kaolin to Japan, lead ore to the United Kingdom and Europe, wolfram to France and the United Kingdom, and graphite to the United States.
A notable event in the year's mining was the discovery of beryl in two areas, one of which is being thoroughly prospect- ed in order to ascertain whether the ore can be worked on a commercial basis.
The graphite mine on West Brother Island continues to show good production results. The type of amorphous graphite produced finds a ready market, and two new areas in other parts of the New Territories are being prospected. Prospecting is also being carried out in the Lam Tsuen valley zone for lead.
By the end of the year preparations had almost been completed to change the Ma On Shan iron mine from open- cast to underground working. During the transition period the ore dressing plant was fully employed processing dumps of low grade ore accumulated during the past five years. Kaolin clay pits were actively mined, and there has also been keen interest in feldspar and quartz.
Page 120Page 121
84