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33. Shing Mun Area—During the next few years the slopes around Jubilee reservoir will be afforested. As a preliminary measure an experimental plantation of 18 acres was planted up with the following species:—Acacia confusa Merr. 2,000; Casuarina equisetifolia L. 1,000; Liquidambar formosana Hance 1,000; Sapium discolor Muell-Arg. 600; Tristania conferta R. Br. 400—Total 5,000 plants. A preliminary survey of the area has been made and a tentative planting programme drawn up. It is proposed to use the local pine (Pinus Massoniana Lamb.) for general purposes and to utilise local and exotic species in the general scheme so far as is practicable. The afforestation of this area (some 874 acres) is a job of fairly large proportions and is estimated to require at least five years to complete, probably more. Cost of the work involved will be borne from loan funds.
34. Other Activities—The following matters are subsidiary to the forestry work of the department, but are carried out by the forestry staff.
35. Miscellaneous Tree Planting—This concerns planting in connection with roadsides, public playgrounds, Government buildings, etc. Plantings of this nature as follows:—Hong Kong Island 2,705, Mainland 5,482, Cheung Chau Island 3,007. These plants were practically all flowering trees and shrubs of an ornamental type. Of these it is worthy of record that 3,802 were Bauhinia spp. chiefly Bauhinia variegata L. There is not much scope now for straightforward roadside planting on Hong Kong Island and the majority of the planting carried out during the past two years has been rather with the idea of introducing as much colour as possible with the aid of massed effects. On the mainland the position is different and the planting mentioned above was for the greater part typical roadside planting. The planting on Cheung Chau Island is of both afforestation and colour types.
36. Scenic Development—The small vote provided for this purpose was used to good effect. Its original purpose was to provide colour along tourist routes. With this aim in view specific attention was given during the year to the road route from the town to the Peak. Considerable planting etc. was carried out both at the town end (Garden Road, etc.) and at the Peak end of this route. A special report concerning the Peak area was submitted to Government which provided both for planting, turfing, etc. and work of a construction nature to be carried out by the Public Works Department. With the exception of turfing and planting at the "Eyrie" site practically all the work in this area was completed. Considerable planting of the massed type was done between these points i.e. in Magazine Gap Road and Stubbs Road. In addition to the tree planting mentioned in the previous paragraph the following flowering shrubs were planted out—Hibiscus spp. 816, Ixora chinensis Lam. 40, Azalea spp. 758, Hydrangea hortensia Sieb. 470, Allamanda spp. 100, Camellia japonica L. 60, Hypericum chinense L. 56, Lagerstroemia indica L. 56, Tecoma stans Juss. 15. Total—2,371. All areas previously planted up under this scheme were regularly cleaned.
37. Brushwood Clearing—In Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories areas cleared of brushwood and undergrowth generally, for all purposes, totalled 6,383,019 square feet or about 146 acres. Permission was obtained to deal with this work by contract thus releasing staff normally employed in supervising the work. The results have justified the change.
38. Bamboo Scheme—As mentioned above (page 6) another attempt has been made to lay the foundations of an economic bamboo plantation. Sites were selected in the Tai Po Kau forest reserve and altogether some 600 culms were planted. These culms were obtained locally and planted out without delay. So far results have been encouraging and, provided sufficient planting material is forthcoming, it should be possible to build up useful plantations during the next few years.
39. Pine Cone Collection—219 lbs. of pine seed was collected towards the end of the year. Cost of collection was 61 cents per lb. which is rather higher than the contract price for pine seed.