J 3-
Harbour Dues
The following amounts paid by the district but not through this office should be added to the figures in Table C:-
*Liquor duties, Sai Kung
$
cts.
3,189.12
1,794.75
No. 1 Launch
4,952.15
17
No. 2 Launch
19
1,909.40
No. 4 Launch
2,497.35
Mining Licence fees for Ma On Shan area
500.00
Tobacco Duties paid to S. I. E.
...
Tobacco Licence fees
Crown Rent paid in Land Office
16,427.04
144.00
2,884.00
Total.......... $34,297.81
*For half year only. After April, liquor duties were collected by the I. & E. Dept.
In April, new distillery regulations were enforced, and collection of revenue from this source was transferred to the I. & E. Department.
V.-GENERAL.
Afforestation. (a) Planting. The vote for this purpose was doubled in 1927, with as far as can be judged satisfactory results. (b) Hill fires were fewer than before, and confined mostly to the border, Saikung, and Taipo districts.
Communications.—A patrol path along the Northern boundary was projected, and is now in hand. When completed, it will form a long needed link between the isolated stations on the frontier.
Nearly the whole of the local public works vote was expended in improving Chinese main roads and bridges, as detailed in table E.
Trade.-Local trade with Chinese territory has resumed normal proportions, and follows the usual routes. There were the regular imports of cattle from Lung Kong, Tam Shui and Wai Chau, which with the import of pigs to Hong Kong brought local prices down to only slightly above the usual level. Pigs continue to be bred in large numbers for the Hong Kong market. Exports were mainly unhulled rice, and fish. The resumption of export of salt-water fish to Sheklung, Tung Kwun and elsewhere in China had a stimulating effect on the local fisheries, and the re-erection of a number of stake-nets in competition with the bright-light fishing-boats is a sure sign of prosperity. Chinese vegetables notably Chinese celery (k'an ts'oi) and a tuber, pachyriza, (sha kot) at one time imported from China, are now exported from the Territory in large quantities to Tung Kwun and neighbouring districts. There was a