14. By the end of the year the inhabitants of the South East corner of this District had not yet started to make use of the new military road from Customs Pass to the East coast, preferring to take their fish and vegetables to market in Hong Kong and Kowloon by the time-honoured carry to Customs Pass, or by junk or ferry-steamer from Hang Hau.
15. The rainfall at Tai Po was nearly 89 inches, as against an average for the last ten years of 83.48 inches. August accounted for nearly 24 inches, but during the last quarter of the year scarcely any rain fell. Statistics for the Yuen Long area are not available, but the rainfall there is probably less.
The rain did not fall so opportunely as in 1935, and the first crop of rice suffered from a dry spring. The second, however, was admittedly good, and, as towards the end of the year the price of rice rose as high as $8 a picul, those sufficiently wealthy not to have to sell their stocks as soon as harvested did well.
Pine-apples grew well, but fetched disappointing prices.
The fishing industry continued to be hampered by the high import duty into China. The demand for oysters was unsatisfactory.
16. The typhoon of the 17th of August did great damage. At Tsing Shan Keuk, Castle Peak, a $3,000 retaining wall, built by the villagers and shop-owners, was completely washed away. They are now building another. At the Cafeteria Beach a large embankment was washed away, and 4 sheds were blown down, as were 9 others at Castle Peak Beach. All District buildings, roads, paths, and trees were damaged.
The heavy rains of early August and early September also caused much damage by floods. Big bunds were overwhelmed, resulting in acres of carefully tended fields becoming flooded, and covered in sand, which remained after the floods had subsided. Comparatively expensive dams were wrecked, and even big bridges swept away or seriously weakened, among them the bridges at San Hui, Castle Peak, and at Saam To Hang, just to the South of and under the Tai Po-Fanling road, before the Lam Tsuen corner.
Table X shows the allocation of assistance from the Departmental vote for "Local Public Works." Unfortunately many deserving works were unfinished by the end of the year, thereby forfeiting any claim to assistance from the vote for 1936, and leaving a large balance unexpended.
17. The mine at Ma On Shan was active, and towards the end of the year, Hong Kong Mines, Limited started their energetic and elaborate attack on the mine at Lin Ma Hang.