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The largest proportionate increases appear under Quarry Leases, Matshed Permits, and Registration Fees. The Ch'ek Lap Kok Stone Quarries were leased, after competition, at an inflated rental of $155 per mensem, but the lessee failed, and only eleven months' rent could be collected from him. In 1911 the collection of fees for the occupation of the pile-huts at Tai O Creek was transferred from the Harbour Office to this Department, whereupon 221 new matshed permits were issued at $1 each per annum.
The great increase in Registration Fees is accounted for by the large number of conveyances on sale for high considerations. On 41 conveyances, $758.50 were paid in registration fees, representing an average consideration of $3,700 per deed.
Table E shows the revenue collected through other Departments from the Southern District. The liquor figures, as a result of the increased duty, are nearly double those of 1910, and the New Kowloon Quarries show a big advance.
Tables D and E together give a grand total of $154,286.02 for 1911, as compared with $122,924.58 for 1910, an increase of $31,361.44.
VII. OPIUM.
7,576.54 taels of prepared opium and 1,919.20 taels of Persian Opium were sold in the Opium Farmer's shops in the Southern District, exclusive of New Kowloon.
A small quantity, 225.0 taels, of Dross Opium was sold in Tai O.
The average price per tael of both prepared and Persian Opium was $4.00. The total receipts were therefore about $38,000.
VIII. LIQUOR.
The liquor tax paid by the Southern District for 1911 amounted to $60,137.86.
Of the whole sum, one distillery in Sham Shui Po paid $26,362.15, while Cheung Chau contributed $22,997.88.
There are 20 distilleries in the district, of which 10 are on the Mainland, 6 in Cheung Chau, 2 in Tai O, and 2 in Ma Wan.
IX. CROPS.
The first rice crop was good, and the second promised well, but was unfortunately spoiled in certain places by a species of blight.