1904-1919
HONG KONG, 1917.
391
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Vermilion.-The business done in 1917 amounted to about $600,000 as compared with about $900,000 in 1916. The decrease was mainly due to the high price of quicksilver which is the principal ingredient used in the manufacture of this article.
Lard.-There were great demands from both Europe and South America with the result that the business was increased to nearly twice as much as that in 1916.
(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. Freshwater fish is imported from Canton and the West River. There are oyster beds of considerable value in Deep Bay.
(d)-FORESTRY, AGRICULTURE, AND BOTANY.
Over 42,000 pine tree seedlings were planted on the hills in the vicinity of the Fanling Golf Course, nearly 4,000 on the hills above Taihang, and 3,000 in the Tytam catchment area.
On the Fanling hills 15 pounds of pine tree seeds were sown, 27 pounds on Mt. Kellet, and 10 pounds on the hills above Repulse Bay. About 40,000 pine tree seedlings were raised for planting in 1918. Creepers damaging trees in the Victoria forest were cut.
Over 5,000,000 square feet were cleared of undergrowth in connection with anti-malarial measures.
In connection with survey work over 1,750,000 square feet of undergrowth were cleared.
Vegetables were grown in the economic garden at Fanling for demonstration purposes.
From the tea plantation near Lead Mine Pass in the New Territories 350 cases of tea were shipped to Australia.
The first rice crop was poor but the second was up to the average. Lichees and peanuts were fair.
Several additions to the flora of Hong Kong were made during the year.
(e)-LAND GRANTS AND GENERAL VALUE OF LAND.
The net amount of premium received from sales of Crown land and pier rights for the year 1917 was $148,086—a decrease of $55,148 on the preceding year and $45,657 less than the average for the past five years.
The principal items were $35,498 in respect of an extension of Hung Hom Marine Lot No. 3, $27,050 on the sale of Kowloon Inland Lot No. 1358, $11,050 on the sale of Inland Lot No. 2234, and $8,507 on the sale of Kowloon Inland Lot No. 1352.
In the New Territories the net amount received for premium on sales of land was $11,622, being a decrease of $133,213 on the preceding year.
The number of deeds registered in the Land Office was 2,824 or 154 more than in the preceding year, the total consideration being $42,666,837, as against $42,201,549 in 1916.
The Government resumed several large areas during the year, viz., Morrison Hill and an adjoining lot; also some lots at the Peak