J 12
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VII. GENERAL.
-
Crops. The first crop was usually good but in many places the second crop failed owing to drought.
Trade was not good during the year owing in a great measure to the high price of rice.
Tai 0.—The year only showed a slight improvement on the previous one. The rice and sweet potato crops were better than last year, but fewer junks visited the place. This is no doubt partially due to the silting up of the harbour, and partially to the lack of a really good typhoon refuge. It will be interesting to see if the lengthening of the pier (projected in 1920) to afford refuge from storms will affect the number of junks. The salt pans produced only 20,392 piculs—less than in 1918 by 1,089 piculs. The market was opened in August, 1919, and did well for the remainder of the year. Its erection has certainly stimulated the demand for land in the vicinity. Crime was rather more prevalent this year, probably owing to hard times that were experienced, in spite of the fact that during the rice shortage free rice and congee were distributed to the poor by the merchants, assisted by the Tung Wa Authorities. But for this, the distress would have been much worse.
Cheung Chau. The year was not particularly prosperous. The first crop of padi was fair but the second failed. The fishing was much less successful than last year and in consequence trade was none too good. The market however continues to flourish and all the stalls were occupied. The same excellent public spirit continues to be shown by the Kai Fong. The town accordingly prospers. This year has seen the formation of an European reservation on the East end of the island and residents in the Colony are building bungalows there in increasing numbers. The launch service has now been arranged so that it is possible to reside in the island and yet spend from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Hongkong. On Saturdays, for the convenience of Europeans, the launch returns to Cheung Chau at 2 p.m.
Tsun Wan.—A prosperous year. Both crops of padi were fair—averaging only about 4,300 piculs, as against 5,500 in good years. The price however averaged $5.75 per picul as against $2.50 in previous years. The pineapple season too was good and the fruit fetched $2.20 per picul, 20 cents in excess of any previously recorded price. The District has been very quiet. The output from the Needle Hill mine averaged about 30 piculs of wolfram ore per month. The sandalwood mills continue to do well. At Ping Chau however the lime kilns have experienced a bad season. One kiln had to close down. The connecting road from Sham Shui Po to Castle Peak was opened for public traffic and seems likely to prove popular with motorists.
Lamma.—Another most prosperous year. The crops were good. Cattle and pig rearing proved very profitable, as did the
J 12
―
VII. GENERAL.
-
Crops. The first crop was usually good but in many places the second crop failed owing to drought.
Trade was not good during the year owing in a great measure to the high price of rice.
Tai 0.—The year only showed a slight improvement on the previous one. The rice and sweet potato crops were better than last year, but fewer junks visited the place. This is no doubt. partially due to the silting up of the harbour, and partially to the lack of a really good typhoon refuge. It will be interesting to see if the lengthening of the pier (projected in 1920) to afford refuge from storms will affect the number of junks. The salt pans pro- duced only 20,392 piculs-less than in 1918 by 1,089 piculs. The market was opened in August, 1919, and did well for the remainder of the year. Its erection has certainly stimulated the demand for land in the vicinity. Crime was rather more prevalent this year, probably owing to hard times that were experienced, in spite of the fact that during the rice shortage free rice and congee were distributed to the poor by the merchants, assisted by the Tung Wa Authorities. But for this, the distress would have been much
worse.
Cheung Chau. The year was not particularly prosperous. The first crop of padi was fair but the second failed. The fishing was much less successful than last year and in consequence trade was none too good. The market however continues to flourish and all the stalls were occupied. The same excellent public spirit continues to be shown by the Kai Fong. The town accordingly prospers. This year has seen the formation of an European re- servation on the East end of the island and residents in the Colony are building bungalows there in increasing numbers. The launch service has now been arranged so that it is possible to reside in the island and yet spend from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Hongkong. On Saturdays, for the convenience of Europeans, the launch returns to Cheung Chau at 2 p.m.
Tsun Wan.-A prosperous year. Both crops of padi were fair-averaging only about 4,300 piculs, as against 5,500 in good years. The price however averaged $5.75 per picul as against $2.50 in previous years. The pineapple scason too was good and the fruit fetched $2.20 per picul, 20 cents in excess of any pre- viously recorded price. The District has been very quiet. The output from the Needle Hill mine averaged about 30 piculs of wolfram ore per month. The sandalwood mills continue to do well. At Ping Chau however the lime kilns have experienced a bad season. One kiln had to close down. The connecting road from Sham Shui Po to Castle Peak was opened for public traffic and seems likely to prove popular with motorists.
Lamma.-Another most prosperous year. The crops were good. Cattle and pig rearing proved very profitable, as did the
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