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is of undergrowth here being connected with attendant evil effects of that of some other countries without making due allowances for circumstances here which counteract or reduce to a harmless mini- mum results injurious to health which are attendant on excessive vegetation under some certain conditions.
57. In tropical places where vegetation is extremely luxuriant and where the land on which it grows is comparatively flat and fertile there is often a mass of decaying vegetation which is undoubtedly injurious to animal life. In Hongkong, however, the soil is, as a rule, comparatively, and much of it excessively, sterile, and the configuration of the island is such that the excessive summer rainfall washes away most of the vegetable matter which has been separated by natural decay from shrubs or trees, and which therefore has no opportunity to lodge on the ground and in the process of decay produce an unhealthy atmosphere.
58. The vegetation of this region being of such a character that but little is shed periodically, and the hills of the island being so steep, there is rarely much accumulation of leafy matter which reaches the stage of unhealthy decay. The existence of healthy living trees, undergrowth, or scrub in them- selves, will not, on due consideration being given to the subject, be blamed, when the chemical action of the leaves of plants is considered, for imparting an unhealthy character to a neighbourhood, but, so long as there is no undue accumulation of decaying vegetation, an abundance of trees and shrubs should be beneficial to the inhabitants so long as due circulation of air and admission of light is not impeded by them.
Ferneries.
59. The ferneries and rockeries which are maintained by the Government-there are some which were constructed at Government expense, but which are not maintained by them-have been kept in good order, but the great storm of May swept part of them away, these are being reconstructed and will be planted again this year. Their maintenance has been rather difficult on account of damages done by stray animals and passing traffic, in addition to which there have been many thefts to plants; it is impossible, on account of petty thefts to grow anything except the commonest of plants in the rockeries.
Protective Service.
60. The small band of Forest Guards has done its work fairly well, and damage and destruction of trees has been confined within narrow limits. Out of 47 cases brought before the Magistrates 40 convictions were obtained.
61. The raising of the rates of the Little Hongkong villagers, in consequence of the continued damage to trees immediately around the old village, has had a marked good effect, proving that the villagers possess the power, which they have been interested in exercising last year for the first time, of guarding the trees.
62. In January convictions for grass cutting ceased, and afterwards no arrests were made. This was in consequence of the presiding Magistrate in the last case having decided that there was no Ordinance under which punishments could be legally inflicted. Since that time grass cutters have been increasingly resuming their old practices, and besides the injury done by removal of grass where it was desirable it should remain, the excuse of being engaged in the avocation of grass cutting gives the people so employed the opportunity of cutting trees at the same time, and thus the work of pro- tection is rendered more difficult and somewhat less perfect.
Grass Fires.
63. Throughout the dry season at the beginning and end of the year fires were numerous, there having been 15 in all. Six of these fires destroyed trees to the number of about 30,000 as near as could be ascertained. The largest quantity of trees destroyed was near Tytam Tuk where the destruc- tion amounted to 16,000 and another one near Pokfulam killed 9,000. Of the 15 fires 9 did no damage to planted trees. The fire barriers-cleared tracks-again did great service in checking the
fires.
64. The extinction of fires has given some arduous work to the staff which is always despatched when needed at any time of the day or night to extinguish them.
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65. The Police have again rendered very valuable service in reporting, by telegraph, fires to me, and also in despatching their own staff with hired coolies to check the fires. Of the 15 fires 9 were reported by the Police, forest guards having also reported some of them. The Stanley and the Shau- kiwan Stations had in their districts the greatest number of fires, the west and northern parts of the island, having been nearly exempt, but the West Point and Aberdeen Police have rendered good service also. The out-stations have been kept supplied by this department with the requisites for fire extinc- tion, and the remuneration to coolies employed has also been paid from the forestry funds.
Fire Barriers.
66. The barriers cleared in previous years were, before the beginning of the dry season, all inspected and recleared where necessary, and new ones made where required. The clearing was done by contract At the present time the total length of barriers in use is about forty miles.