9. The following list of the salt pans in the Southern District of the New Territory, showing details concerning the leases granted by Government, has been kindly supplied by Mr. S. B. B. McElderry:-
Tai O Salt Pan No.
Area in
Nature of Lease.
acres,
Annual Cr. Rent.
1.
15 years from 6-6,04
37.37
$ 562.00
with an extension for
1 year from 66|19.
2.
18 years from 28/7/06.
37.37
$ 2,011,00
3.
18 years from 10/1/13.
5.66
$
87.60
18 years from 29/11/12. 21.42
€ 1,022.00
Process of Manufacture.
10. There are two processes for preparing salt. One is commonly known as "drying salt water" (ie., by evaporation) and another "drying on sand." The evaporation process is a simple and convenient one, while that of drying on sand yields better results in obtaining pure white salt.
11. By the first process two or three dams are built ad- joining the salt pan. These dams have raised railings on the border, which can be opened or closed at option. Salt water from the sea is at first wheeled into the pan where it is exposed to the sun for one or two days. After this, the water is allowed to pass into the first dam where it is also allowed to evaporate for another day. Then it is made to pass into the second dam for evaporation. After another day, the water from the second dam is allowed to pass into the third dam, when it is examined for the formation of crystals. If such are found, they are then dried into salt in the last dam. Before it can be considered a marketable commodity the salt thus made must be exposed to the strong rays of the sun for perfect drying.
12. When there is no flood from the West River and no heavy rain during the month the above-described process has to be undertaken, then salt is generally produced.
13. As can well be imagined atmospheric conditions exercise an all-important influence on the industry. If the weather happens to be dull, and the rays of the sun are not strong enough, then the drying process would produce a negligi- ble result, and therefore it is not certain that salt can be produced.
14. In Spring when the sky is generally obscured for a whole day at a time, it frequently happens that the water can- not be dried in a single day for one or two months at a time.
Sand-Drying Process Described.
15. The process of drying on sand may be thus describ- ed:, Sand is at first laid over the surface of the field or pan provided with dykes all around. Salt water from the sea is then wheeled into the sand field, where it is dried in the sun for one or two days. Then the water from the sand field is allowed to pass through it to the dam, where it is dried in the sun until it becomes salt.
16. By this process, although the salt is whiter and has a higher commercial value, yet the work is so complicated, that, of late, it has almost come to be abandoned in favour of the alternate process of evaporation which is the one now mostly adopted.
17. For every "mow" of field, where salt water is dried once, it is called one "lau" (#). A “lau" yields approxim- ately from 300 to 400 catties of salt and involves four days' labour. It has already been explained that the salt water must pass through the various dams in succession. It will never do for the salt water from the sea, wheeled into the pan, to ovaporate under the rays of the sun for four days in succession in the same pan. After it has gone through the various stages, it must be examined to find out whether crystals have been formed before they can be dried for salt
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18.
The labourers engaged in the evaporation process
are mostly Hakka people. They are organised in a guild, and only agree to work six to seven hours a day. Their wages are high, because they allege the work in connection with the salt industry is harder than the ploughing of fields.
An Unprofitable Industry.
19. At present the three "Salt-Drying" Companies in Tai O are making no profit out of their business. One of the companies is about to give up business, while the other two may dispose of their industry at any time. In the sixth or seventh moon last year prospects looked rather more hopeful for the industry, when the price of salt was rising. Under this favourable condition, dealers made more or less money, but for the rest of the year none made any profit.
20.
An enterprising Chinese gentleman in Hongkong visited Tai O last year and proposed starting some new salt pans, but the project was not put into effect, as, after investiga- tion, it was discovered that the industry was not remunerative.
Imported Salt.
21. Salt imported from foreign ports into Hongkong is estimated to amount to from 1,400,000 to 1,500,000 piculs. The neighbouring port of Macao, smugglers on the Mainland, and fishing boats consume a large portion of the imported com. modity. Macao alone takes from 150,000 to 160,000 piculs.
22. Salt is generally imported into Hongkong from Saigon, Bangkok, Quinhon, Tourane, Kiaochow and Kwong Chow Wan. Foreign salt, however, is not shipped to Hong- kong at all times, because salt merchants usually stock the commodity in port until favourable exchange rules and cheap freight is obtained. At the present time only salt from Bang- kok can be imported with more or less hope of profit. Salt from other places will not pay under existing conditions of the trade.
The Industry in Kwangtung.
23. There are two regions where salt is produced in Kwangtung along the coast, viz., the Eastern region and the Western region. The Eastern region comprises Waichow, Chiuchow and places between Swatow and Yin Ping District as well as Cheongchow and Chunehow. Salt obtained from this region is considered of the highest grade.
24. The Western region comprises Kochow, Luichow, Limehow, Yumehow, Kiangchow and Kwong Chow Wan. The production from the Western region is larger than that from the Eastern region.
25. The Kwangtung salt tax has hitherto been let out as
a monopoly to merchants or operated by merchants under official supervision,
26. The salt depots of the various districts must apply to the Salt Commissioner for licences to consume certain quan- tities of salt. The licences provide for either a certain specified limit of quantity or additional amount in excess of the specified quantity. The tax is paid on obtaining the licence, and salt can be bought on production of the licence. If salt is sold without the Salt Commissioner's licence, it is considered a smuggling transaction.
R. HO TUNG,
Chairman.
r'actory and Home and Cottage Industries Sub-Committee.
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