J 5-
7. 7 cases of fire were reported by the Police to the Magistrate, of which 2 were in Yuen Long, 2 in Tai Po Market, 1 in Ping Shan, 1 in Sheung Shui and 1 in Lok Ma Chow. In 3 of these cases the property concerned was insured. In no case was foul play suspected.
LAND AND AGRICULTURE.
8. Statistics regarding the sale, etc., of Crown Land are shown in Appendix IX.
The marked decrease in the sale of Crown Land for agriculture or building has been mentioned under "Expenditure and Revenue" above. The comparatively modern demand to buy land to plant orchards was maintained, though it was not so strong as in 1936. New "village-type" houses go up steadily here and there, often with emigrants' money. The number of matshed permits, 1175, was the highest ever issued. There is a strong demand from immigrant Hakka from Waichow for permission to put up matsheds in the western half of the District, in areas near the main road, for making bean-curd. Each demand is investigated by the Police, as matshed dwellers show a greater tendency to crime than the regular inhabitants.
There was a diminution in the number of registered memorials of mortgages, conveyances, etc., and in the fees paid therefor.
The value of land increased. So did the number of concrete-post-and-barbed-wire fences, to which deprecatory reference was made in the report for 1936.
Appendix X shows the allocation of funds to assist public works undertaken by the people themselves. The reason for the large unexpended balance is given under "Expenditure and Revenue" above. Chik Kang is at the head of Long Harbour, and Tai Long is on Fung Bay.
Owing to insufficient rain in the early stages the first crop of rice was poor. But the second was admittedly good. Rice prices, partly due to the shortage in Canton, were satisfactory, averaging about $6 a picul. Lichees were scarce owing to high winds occurring when they were in flower, but prices were good. Winter fruit of course suffered severely from the typhoon. Pineapples suffered from the occurrence of cold weather comparatively late in the year. Prices were normal. Every winter sees more land planted with vegetables. These did well, and prices were satisfactory, the market for tomatoes especially being less disappointing than in 1936. Wheat and barley were grown on an experimental scale.
Page 300
Page 301