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(b) Rural Districts. Increasing number of re-assessments in village areas, and sales of new house-sites in rural districts, are still unable to keep pace with the influx of Chinese from over the border, and collections of matsheds are springing up in various places, notably at Ngau Tam Mei, Chuk Yuen, Chiu Kwang and Castle Peak. The newcomers are Chung Lok or Wai Chau Hakka cultivators with a sprinkling of Fa Yuen people. It is a healthy sign that some of these matshed-dwellers have applied for land, and are building houses.
Frontier.—On the cessation of the Canton boycott in October, normal intercourse with Chinese Territory was resumed, but determined attempts to circulate anti-British propagandist notices within our border made it necessary to take additional measures for policing the frontier, especially at Lo Wu and Shataukok.
Industries.—(a) Brick-making. Native brick kilns have had an unusually prosperous year, but those with modern plant at Castle Peak and Lo Wu have found it hard to carry on, as the market for their wares (mainly Hong Kong) is still very dull.
(b) Fisheries. Fishing in the Eastern part of Territory was only fair. On account of disturbed conditions in China, boats did not go far afield, and the local fishing grounds were taxed to their utmost. A large number of fish in ponds on the Western side of the Territory were destroyed by drought.
Local administration.—A number of (Tsz Yi) or 'Head-boroughs', were appointed by H. E. the Governor to assist the District Officer with advice in matters of local interest or dispute. The appointment, which is honorary, lasts a year, and confers a valued recognition on the long and faithful service rendered by men without whose help the thirty years' successful administration of the District would have been, if not impossible, at least a much more difficult and onerous task.
Markets.—A new market building has been completed at Yuen Long, on ground reclaimed and drained by local enterprise, and the available open space at Tai Po Market is being levelled and surfaced to take the stalls which now on market days crowd the narrow streets.
Produce. (a) Rice. The first rice crop was successful in most parts of the District, but about a quarter of the second crop, which was late, was destroyed by rain.
Rice-growing, while here limited only by the area available for cultivation, depends in a great measure on man-power and water-supply; where either of these latter is lacking, the ground goes out of cultivation. Broadly speaking, every possible acre of ground is planted with rice
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(b) Rural Districts. Increasing number of re-assessments in village areas, and sales of new house-sites in rural districts, are still unable to keep pace with the influx of Chinese from over the border, and collections of matsheds are springing up in various places, notably at Ngau Tan Mei. Chuk Yuen, Chiu Kang and Castle Peak. The newcomers are Chung Lok or Wai Chau Hakka cultivators with a sprinkling of Fa Yuen people. It is a healthy sign that some of these matshed-dwellers have applied for land, and are building houses.
Frontier.—On the cessation of the Canton boycott in October, normal intercourse with Chinese Territory was resumed, but determined attempts to circulate anti-British propagandist notices within our border made it necessary to take additional measures for policing the frontier, especially at, Lo Wu and Shataukok.
Industries.-(a) Brick-making. Native brick kilns have had an unusually prosperous year, but those with modern plant at Castle Peak and Lo Wu have found it hard to carry on, as the market for their wares (mainly Hong Kong) is still very dull.
the.
(b) Fisheries. Fishing in the Eastern part of Territory was only fair. On account of disturbed conditions. in China, boats did not go far afield, and the local fishing grounds were taxed to their ulinost. A large number of fish in ponds on the Western side of the Territory were destroyed by drought.
Local administration.-A number of (Tsz Yi) or 'Head-boroughs, were appointed by H. E. the Governor to assist the District Officer with advise in matters of local interest or dispute. The appointment, which is honorary. lasts a year, and confers a valued recognition on the long and faithful service rendered by men without whose help the thirty years' successful administration of the District would have been, if not impossible. at least a much more difficult and onerous task.
Markets.—A new market building has been completed at Yuen Long, on ground reclaimed and drained by local enterprise, and the available open space at Taipo Market is being levelled and surfaced to take the stalls which now on market davs crowd the narrow streets.
Produce. (a) Rice. The irst rice crop was successful in most parts of the District, but about a quarter of the second crop, which was late, was destroyed by rain.
Rice-growing, while here linited only by the area available for cultivation, depends in a geat measure on man-power and water-supply; where either of these latter is lacking, the ground goes out of cultivation. Broadly speaking, every possible acre
ground is planted with rice
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