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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS- ANNUAL.
Leather.-There are eight local tanneries. An increase in the price of hides affected the business adversely.
Ginger and Preserves.-The volume of business done showed a slight decrease and profits were affected by a rise in the price of sugar.
There are 14 factories in the Colony.
Soy.-There is no improvement to report in this trade, which remains dull.
Paper. The mills produced more paper, and the prices obtained were higher than last year.
Vermilion.-There was a further falling off in this trade. Lard.-Much of the lard manufactured in the Colony is exported to the Philippines, where new regulations were introduced during the year requiring the purity of animal products to be certified. The local manufacturers of lard, made from animals killed in the Colony, have found no difficulty in complying with the regulations. The output has increased considerably, and the price has also risen.
(c.) FISHERIES.
A considerable proportion of the boat-population of Hong Kong supports itself by deep-sea fishing, in which pursuit a large number of junks are engaged. The villages of Aberdeen, Stanley, Shaukiwan, and also many in the New Territories are largely dependent upon this industry for their prosperity. There will soon be steam trawlers engaged in this industry, and regulations have been made by the Government for their control. Fresh-water fish is imported from Canton and the West River. There are oyster beds of considerable value in Deep Bay.
(d.) FORESTRY, AGRICULTURE, AND BOTANY.
The formation of pine tree plantations in the Harbour Belt between Lai-chi-kok and Lyemun has been continued to the extent of about 400 acres, and sites which failed in the area sown in 1909 have been resown. About 2,000 broad-leaved trees of different kinds have been planted on the hills at Shaukiwan, and 400 tristanias and 200 eucalyptus at Quarry Bay.
Shade trees in Hong Kong and Kowloon have been renewed where necessary, and flowering trees and shrubs have been planted in various places on the roads and hills in Hong Kong, where they will be readily seen when in flower. Banian trees have been planted on the approach roads to Yaumati and Taipo railway stations. Under the timber contract, 200 acres of pine forest at Mount Davis, and 70 acres at Aberdeen have been felled. Approximately 2,000,000 square feet of undergrowth have been cleared at the cost of the Government, 300,000 square feet at the cost of the Military Authorities, and 300,000 square feet at the cost of private individuals in connection with the crusade against mosquitoes and malaria.
The first crop of rice in the New Territories was poor owing to the drought, but the second crop was good, and other vegetable and fruit crops have been up to the average.
A sample of Chinese peppermint oil has been submitted to the Director of the Imperial Institute at his own request. It has
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