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considered in case the need should arise at a future date for
exploitation of the Colony's timber resources in this connection.
It is proposed therefore to proceed as follows:-
(a) To develop Pine forests in the more recently
planted areas where feasible by discouraging
the development of local tree and shrub types
beneath them. This will encourage the Pines
to regenerate naturally and the areas to remain
as pure Pine stands.
(b) To confine afforestation activities to valleys
and lower hills leaving the upper slopes and
high ridges under grass and scrub except where
erosion may necessitate action. The afforestation
operations carried out on the lower elevations
and in the valleys control erosion from these
of areas, while the grass and scrub covering/the
peaks and high ridges serves a similar purpose
at the higher elevations. By further mass
afforestation methods there is a great danger
that the herbaceous small flora of Hong Kong
may be eliminated.
(c) To develop a few plantations consisting of pure
stands of Camphor, Eucalyptus, etc.
Mainland. As already stated afforestation has been
concentrated in certain areas, these are (i) Customs Pass (ii)
Diamond Hill (iii) Kowloon Reservoir and Tai Wo Po (iv) Taipo
Kau Forest Reserve and (v) Fanling. (i) and (ii) have suffered
heavily from the ravages of typhoons and the depredations of
illicit tree cutters. (iii) only to a slightly lesser extent
in some parts (iv) is more or less intact and (v) has suffered
severely from the recent typhoons.
Further development on the Mainland must take into
consideration the following points: a) Military requirements
and (b) the "leased lot" system controlled by the District