6
Engineering and Shipbuilding.-This section of the Colony's Industry was carried on under adverse circumstances. The great trade depression from which the local Shipping suffered severely made its influence felt in this industry and the amount of new construction turned out by the local Companies was not very encouraging.
In regard to War Vessels, the active operation of the floating Docks at Tsingtau and at Olongapo in the Philippine Islands, installed by the German and United States Governments respectively, was responsible for the continuance of a very large falling off in the docking and repairing of Foreign War Vessels, the tonnages dealt with by the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock for 1906, 1907 and 1908 being 64,318, 3,692 and 3,652 respectively, with apparently no prospect of future improvement. The tonnage of British War Vessels docked was on a level with those prevailing during the year immediately preceding.
Work in the nature of large repairs to Steamers was scarce during the earlier half of the year.
The Typhoon in July, however, contributed to a large extent towards the improvement experienced in this direction during the latter half.
During the year a large Dock built by Messrs. Butterfield & Swire at Quarry Bay was opened. It is 787 feet long, 88 feet wide at the top of the entrance and 81′ 8′′ at the sill. There are 35 feet over the sill at ordinary high water. In addition to the Dock there are three slipways, one of them about 950 feet long and 80 feet broad, capable of lifting vessels up to 3,000 tons weight. The other two are about 900 feet long by 60 feet broad and are capable of accommodating vessels up to 2,000 tons. There are also Machine Shops, Boiler Shop, a Forge and Smithy, a Foundry, Galvanizing Shop, Saw Mill and a Wood-working Department. The Building Yard is laid out for four big berths capable of taking on vessels up to 600 feet in length, and the machinery is adapted to dealing with this sort of work. The power is supplied by Gas Engines and is transmitted throughout the Yard electrically.
(c.) FISHERIES.
A considerable proportion of the boat-population of Hongkong supports itself by deep-sea fishing, in which pursuit a large number of junks are engaged. The villages of Aberdeen, Stanley, Shaukiwan, and many others in the New Territories are largely dependent upon this industry for their prosperity. Fresh water fish is imported from Canton and the West River. There are oyster beds of considerable value in Deep Bay.
(d.) FORESTRY AND AGRICULTURE.
Forestry work has consisted (1) in the formation of 400 acres of pine plantations in continuation of the Harbour Belt now extending some seven miles from Lai-chi-kok towards Lyeemun (2) the continuation of afforesting the catchment areas of Tytam, Pok-fulam and Kowloon Reservoirs, (3) the replanting of felled areas at Aberdeen and Mount Kellett (4) the extension of the avenues of shade trees in Kowloon (5) the care of existing plantations.
The year was marked by exceptionally good crops of fruits, vegetables and rice in the New Territories; especially may be mentioned the abundance and excellence of the output of Pineapples, Plums, Pears, and Peanuts.
The chief economic works other than the above have been the successful establishment of the rare and valuable Nanmu or Coffin Wood-tree in our nurseries from seeds obtained from Szechuen, and the collection of information and materials relating to the trade of the Colony in vegetable products.
With a view to placing the botanical resources of the Botanical and Forestry Department as far as possible at the service of the mercantile community of Hongkong the Superintendent has been instructed to collect all possible information upon the vegetable products of the neighbourhood or for which Hongkong is an emporium. This information is to refer chiefly to the raw or partly manufactured products exported from China and include the locality of their production, quantity available, country to which exported, price at port of export and in the markets to which they eventually go. Considerable progress has been made during the year with this scheme and information with regard to a few of our more important vegetable products, such as China-root and Galangal was collected.
A considerable amount of scientific work upon the flora of the Colony and neighbouring parts of China has been done in England and other countries with materials supplied by the Forestry Department.
6
Engineering and Shipbuilding.-This section of the Colony's Industry was carried on under adverse circumstances. The great trade depression from which the local Shipping suffered severely made its influence felt in this industry and the amount of new construction turned out by the local Companies was not very encouraging.
In regard to War Vessels, the active operation of the, floating Docks at Tsingtau and at Olongapo in the Philippine Islands, installed by the German and United States Govern- ments respectively, was responsible for the continuance of a very large falling off in the docking and repairing of Foreign War Vessels, the tonnages dealt with by the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock for 1906, 1907 and 1908 being 64,318, 3,692 and 3,652 respectively, with apparently no prospect of future improvement. The tonnage of British War Vessels docked was on a level with those prevailing during the year immediately preceding.
Work in the nature of large repairs to Steamers was scarce during the earlier half of the year.
The Typhoon in July, however, contributed to a large extent towards the improvement experienced in this direction during the latter half.
During the year a large Dock built by Messrs. Butterfield & Swire at Quarry Bay was opened. It is 787 feet long. 88 feet wide at the top of the entrance and 81′ 8′′ at the sill. There are 35 feet over the sill at ordinary high water. In addition to the Dock there are three slipways, one of them about 950 feet long and 80 feet broad, capable of lifting vessels up to 3,000 tons weight. The other two are about 900 feet long by 60 feet broad and are capable of accommodating vessels up to 2,000 tons. There are also Alachine Shops, Boiler Shop-, a Forge and Smithy, a Foundry, Galvanizing Shop, Saw Mill and a Wood-working Department. The Building Yard is laid out for four big berths capable of taking on vessels up to 600 feet in length, and the machinery is alapted to dealing with this sort of work. The power is supplied by Gas Engines and is transmitted throughout the Yard electrically.
(c.) FISHERIES.
A considerable proportion of the boat-population of Hongkong supports itself by deep- sea fishing, in which pursuit a large number of junks are engaged. The villages of Aberdeen, Stanley, Shaukiwan, and many others in the New Territories are largely dependent upon this industry for their prosperity. Fresh water fish is imported from Canton and the West River. There are oyster beds of considerable value in Deep Bay.
(d.) FORESTRY AND AGRICULTURE.
Forestry work has consisted (1) in the formation of 400 acres of pine plantations in continuation of the Harbour Belt now extending some seven miles from__Lai-chi-kok towards Lyeemun (2) the continuation of afforesting the catchment areas of Tytam, Pok- fulam and Kowloon Reservoirs, (3) the replanting of felled areas at Aberdeen and Mount Kellett (4) the extension of the avenues of shade trees in Kowloon (5) the care of existing plantatious.
The year was marked by exceptionally good crops of fruits, vegetables and rice in the New Territories; especially may be mentioned the abundance and excellence of the output of Pineapples, Plums, Pears, and Peanuts.
The chief economic works other than the above have been the successful establishment of the rare and valuable Nanmu or Coffin Wood-tree in our nurseries from seeds obtained from Szechuen, and the collection of information and materials relating to the trade of the Colony in vegetable products.
With a view to placing the botanical resources of the Botanical and Forestry Department as far as possible at the service of the mercantile community of Hongkong the Superintendent has been instructed to collect all possible information upon the vegetable products of the neighbourhood or for which Hongkong is an emporium. This information is to refer chiefly to the raw or partly manufactured products exported from China and include the lccality of of their production, quantity available, country to which exported, price at port of export and in the markets to which they eventually go. Considerable progress has been made during the year with this scheme and information with regard to a few of our more important vegetable products, such as China-root and Galangal was collected.
A considerable amount of scientific work upon the flora of the Colony and neighbouring parts of China has been done in England and other countries with materials supplied by the Forestry Department.
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