MAIN ROADS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
Distance in Direct Line, Miles.
Yaumati, Kowloon City, Tai Po,
Tai Wai, Sha Tin,
Tai Wan Tau, Tai Po,
Fung Un, Shun Wan, Wang Chung, Tai Po,
Sha Tau Kok, Sheung Shui, Tai Lam Chung,
Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun, Un Long, Tai O,
Tung Chung, Mui Wo via Kun Yam Shan, Sai Kung, Hang Hau,
Sha Tin via Sai Kung, Shun Wan, Sha Lo Tung, Wang Chung, Kuk Po, Luk Keng,
Sha Tau Kok via Wan Shan Ha, Sha Tau Kok via Lung Yeuk Tau, Sham Chun via Sheung Shui,
Un Long via Lam Tsuen Valley, Tsuen Wan via Shing Mun Valley, Sham Chun via Lin Ma Hang, Sham Chun via Man Uk Pin,
Un Long via San Tin, Un Long via Tai Shek Wu, Un Long via Pak Kung Au, Un Long via Fan Shui Au, Un Long via Ma On Kong, Un Long via Kau Lung,
Lung Kwu Tan via Peng Shan and Ha Tsuen, Shek Shun via Tai O,
Shek Pik via Keung Shan,
Mui Wo via Tai Ho, Pui O,
2919+9836AGRICULTURE AND OTHER INDUSTRIES.
Bamboo Ropes. Some good series of bamboo ropes both plaited and twisted were secured through the kindness of Mr. PLAYFAIR and Mr. HIGGS of H. M. Consulate, Foochow, and of Mr. CURRIE of the C.I.M. Customs at Swatow and were sent to the Imperial Institute and to Kew.
COMMERCIAL INVESTIGATIONS.
With a view to placing the botanical resources of this Department as far as possible at the service of the mercantile community of Hongkong His Excellency has requested me to collect all possible information upon the vegetable products of this neighbourhood or for which Hongkong is an emporium. This information is to refer chiefly to the raw or partly manufactured products exported from China and to include the locality of their production, quantity available, country to which exported, price at port of export and in the markets to which they eventually go.
The Director of the Imperial Institute of London has already on several occasions used the wide resources of his establishment for the investigation of vegetable products in which Hongkong is interested as has been recorded on several occasions in these Annual Reports. His aid would certainly be sought in certain parts of these commercial investigations and the additional details so obtained as well as others obtainable through official sources would perhaps be of sufficient use to firms interested in the trade of the Colony to enable them to take up new products or at any rate to handle some of the older ones to greater advantage.
The chief subjects of correspondence with the Institute during the last year have been oils and oil seeds, bamboo products and Chinese medicines (collected in connection with the request of the British Pharmacopoeia Committee). The following vegetable products have been selected for preliminary investigation as being among those of most importance to this Colony - China Root, Galangal, Abutilon Fibre, Ramie, Apricot kernels and Melon seeds.