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On the tops of the hills west of Beacon Hill 77 pounds of pine tree seed were sown broadcast and at Shunwan, 8 pounds.
About 25,000 pine tree seedlings were raised in nurseries for planting in 1919.
Over 8,000 broad-leaved trees were planted on the hills in the vicinity of the Fanling Golf Course, 1,046 on Cheung Chau Island, 1,120 above the Pokfulam Conduit, 895 between Deepwater Bay and Repulse Bay, 381 on Mt. Kellet, and 145 near Sookunpo.
Six hundred Ficus creepers were planted in Mt. Kellet Cemetery.
In Hongkong and Kowloon over 1,500 flowering trees and shrubs, 106 broad-leaved trees and nearly 200 creopers were planted in various places.
Along the Taipo-Castle Peak Road, trees which had failed were replaced by others. Abongst the failures were about 500 Flame trees destroyed by frost in January.
Between Santin and Atau 623 trees were planted after the widening of the road had been completed.
Seven hundred and seventy trees (770) and shrubs were planted between the sixth and ninth miles on the Taipo Road where im- provements had been effected.
On the first section of the coastal road from Cheungshawan to Castle Peak 470 trees were planted.
Over 1,000 flowering shrubs were planted around the Fanling Golf Course.
Pine tree plantations between Beacon Hill and Lyemun were laimed.
Creepers damaging treca in various plantations in Hongkong
were cut.
About 3,000,000 square feet of undergrowth were cleared in connection with anti-malarial measures.
In connection with survey and other works, about 4,500,000 square feet of undergrowth were cleared.
Vegetables were grown in the economic garden, Fanling, for demonstration purposes.
The crops of rice, lichees and peanuts were fair.
Several hundred specimens of Kwangtung and other plants were presented to the Department by the Bureau of Science, Manila, and the Canton Christian College.
A few additions were made to the local Flora,
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(LAND GRANTS AND GENERAL VALUE OF LAND,
The net amount of premium received from sales of Crown land and pier rights for the year 1918 was $243,530, an increase of $95,444 on the preceding year and $59,538 more than the average for the past five years.
The principal items were $42,980 in respect of an extension of Kowloon Marine Lot No. 27 and Hunghom Inland Lot No. 218, $25,800 in respect of Aberdeen Inland Lots Nos. 81 to 88, $23,174 in respect of Hunghom Inland Lots Nos. 257 and 258, and $19,116 in respect of Kowloon Inland Lot No. 1357.
In the New Territories the net amount received for premium on sales of land was $54,052 being an increase of $42,430 on the preceding year.
The number of deeds registered in the Land Office was 2,922 or 98 more than the preceding year, the total consideration being $47,726,785 as against $42,660,837 in 1917.
The Government resumed several large areas during the year, including Kowloon Marine Lot No. 83, Kowloon Inland Lot No. 1178, and section A of Farm Lot No. 22.
The total area of land granted during the year was 890 acres of which 6641 acres were situated in the New Territories; the total area of land resumed was 48} acres.
In the Northern District of the New Territories there was rather less demand for house sites and agricultural land but this was more than made up for by increased demand for land for growing fruit and other trees. Applicants have in several cases been allowed to purchase grave sites on the more remote hillsides on condition of planting the neighbourhood with trees, a condition which they are quite ready to accept.
in the Southern District the demand for land has been about the same as in previous years.
III.-LEGISLATION.
Fifteen Ordinances were passed during 1918 of which six were amendments of previous Ordinances.
The most important matters with which these Ordinances dealt were the Indecent Exhibitions (No. 3), Bills of Exchange (Time of Noting) (No. 4), Olaims against Enemies (No. 5), Peak District (Residence) (No. 8), General Military Service (No. 9), Copyright (No. 11), and Opium (No. 13).
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