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and been fixed in the midst of the sugar districts, and satisfactory trials of cane-crushing have been made. His Excellency the Governor and the Colonial Secretary were present at two of the trials. The arrangements of setting up these mills and conducting the trials were entrusted to and carried out by myself.
A considerable number of references have been made to this Department in connection with tree conservation and kindred subjects, and I submitted a draft proclamation, which was authorized and published, cautioning the people against the destruction of trees.
I have introduced from Ceylon a superior variety of Pine-apple plant for distribution amongst the growers of this plant.
By His Excellency the Governor's instructions improved varieties of sugar cane are also being obtained from Java, the Straits Settlements, and Honolulu, and I have made arrangements for Mr. TANG HING-TONG to receive them and cultivate them during the ensuing season.
Hongkong, 17th January, 1900.
Appendix No. XIII.
C. FORD.
Memorandum on work done by the Public Works Department in the New Territory during the year 1899.
1. Temporary accommodation in the form of matsheds was put up for the Police and Military during the months of April and May at Táipó, Au-tau, Futi Au, Sha-t'in at a cost of $11,624.41.
2. The arrangements in connection with the hoisting of the flag on April 16th, which consisted in building a landing stage, forming an approach road, erection of sheds, providing and erecting a flagstaff, &c., cost $2,085.00.
3. Telephone lines have been constructed connecting British Kowloon with Kowloon City, Shá-t'in, Táipó, Futi Au, Sheung-shui, Au-t'au, Ping-shán, a total distance of about thirty miles, at a cost of $3,763.93.
4. A large permanent Police Station, containing 12 rooms and accommodation for five Europeans, 32 Indians and Chinese, was erected in 1899 at Táipó, at a cost of $7,650.
5. A permanent two-storied Police Station (11 rooms) at Au-t'au, near Un Long, with accommodation for six Europeans, 21 Indians and Chinese, was nearly completed, the expenditure on it in 1899 being $8,330.
6. A similar station at P'ing-shan was also nearly completed, the expenditure in 1899 being $7,650.
7. A sum of $311.99 was spent in sanitation, in improving the drainage in Kowloon City, in the vicinity of the old Customs Station, now used as a Police Station, and in some minor works at Sheung-shui Police Station.
8. The main road into the territory starting from Mongkoktsui and crossing through a gap on the hills 450′ high behind Ch'eungshawán and then down the Sha-tin Valley, to Taiwai was commenced in May. The earthwork for a distance of seven miles from Tsim-sha-tsui ferry was completed in December. Four miles of the rockwork, bridges, culverts, &c., were practically completed in the same time, and the road for six miles from the ferry open and ready for traffic. Considerable progress was made with rock-work and buildings in the Sha-t'in Valley. The trace on towards Taipó was made for three miles beyond Tai-wai. The total expenditure on this road during the year was $49,066.32. It is estimated that the second section, i.e., from Tai-wai to Taipo will be about seven miles, and the third from Táipó to the Northern boundary of the territory about nine miles more, the total distance from Tsim-sha-tsui ferry to a point near Shamchun being twenty-five miles.
9. The Hunghom Road on the East side of British Kowloon peninsula was extended to Kowloon City and nearly completed in 1899, at a cost in that year of $14,694.05.
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