}
{
29
closure B.
cultivated area are small compared with those of the country
between the frontier and Canton.
13.
The productiveness of the land and its capacity
to support new industries is largely governed by the water sup-
ply. On the st route the largest stream in the New Territory flows down the Sha Tin Valley entering Tide Cove at Tai Wai and if the railway were constructed along this route part of this
water might be diverted in pipes through the proposed tunnel to
add to the supply of Kowloon. Two considerable streams enter
Tolo Harbour on either side of Tai Pa. For the rest of the route
the water supply is fain. On the West route there are good streams at Tsun Wan and Tai Lam Cheung supplying more water than is necessary for existing cultivation at those places. The fresh water in the Un Long District is barely sufficient for cultiva-
tion. Owing to this, sugar is grown in many places instead of
rice and there are yearly disputes between villages over water at the time of the growing of the first rice crop. Tidal creeks run up to Un Long and Kam Tin. The Sham Chun River which is ti-
dal to about a mile North of Sheung Shui serves both routes.
14.
Enclosure B gives an account of existing indus-
tries in the New Territories which are mainly agricultural and fishing. The one manufactory is at Un Long on the West route but with improved communication there is no reason why the considera -bie success of the San Hing Lung firm might not be many times repeated. The #est route offers more space for such industries
while the East route bas, as has been stated, some advantages
from the point of view of water-supply.
15.
The East route gives access to Tolo Harbour and
a station about the 7th. mile on the map (the 9th. from the
terminus) would be near deep water while good road access could
be made from Tai Po to Shun Wan and the shores of Plover Cove
where thereis also a considerable area of deep water well pro-
tected
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