N 5
The total number of fires during the year was 116 as against 68 in 1928 and 30 in 1927. This was very largely due to the lack of rain, and extensive damage was done to Pine and other plantations. The most serious damage occurred on the day of the Ching Ming Festival, which was most unfortunately hot and dry, and 27 fires broke out in cemeteries and in the vicinity of graves. The total number of mature Pine trees killed by these fires was not less than 10,000; the whole of the damage was directly due to the careless handling of sacrificial papers, candles and fire-crackers. The Chung Yeung Festival was responsible for only two fires. The remainder were apparently caused by the dropping of lighted matches or tobacco.
Insect Pests.-Pine Tree Caterpillars (Dendrolimus punctatus) made their appearance in very small numbers and the amount of damage done by them was negligible.
Forest Guards Service.-The total number of persons arrested and charged with forestry offences by Forest Guards during the year was 156, of these 129 were fined or imprisoned, 18 cautioned, 4 had their bail estreated, cases against 2 were dismissed, 1 was bound over and cases against 2 were withdrawn.
The Police Department arrested and charged 98 persons with forestry offences, of these 90 were fined or imprisoned, 1 had bail estreated and 7 were discharged.
IIA.
Full particulars of these cases are given in Tables I, II and III.
Organised raids on plantations were less frequent than usual. This was undoubtedly largely due to exemplary punishment inflicted by Police Magistrates and District Officers and to the absence of old offenders with one or more previous convictions, of whom 8 were banished during the year.
Courts of Inquiry under Ordinance No. 6 of 1917 were held at the villages of Lung Kwu Tan and Mui Tze Lam, where extensive illicit felling of wild trees had occurred. In both cases the villages were fined.
One contractor paid $50 compensation for damage done to roadside trees.
Forest Service Paths. The service path at Taipo Kau Forestry Reserve was extended and other paths in all parts of the Colony were given such attention as they required.
AGRICULTURE, ETC.
The Ground Nut crop in all parts of the Colony was very poor, owing to the damage done by a fungoid disease.
An exhibit of foreign vegetables was staged at the New Territories Agricultural Show, which was held for the second time at Fan Ling.
Page 450
Page 451
1
N 5
The total number of fires during the year was 116 as against 68 in 1928 and 30 in 1927. This was very largely due to the lack of rain, and extensive damage was done to Pine and other plantations. The most serious damage occurred on the day of the Ching Ming Festival, which was most unfortunately hot and dry, and 27 fires broke out in cemeteries and in the vicinity of graves. The total number of mature Pine trees killed by these fires was not less than 10,000; the whole of the damage was directly due to the careless handling of sacrificial papers, candles and fire-crackers. The Chung Yeung Festival was res ponsible for only two fires. The remainder were apparently caused by the dropping of lighted matches or tobacco.
Insect Pests.-Pine Tree Caterpillars (Dendrolimus punc- tutus) made their appearance in very small numbers and the amount of damage done by them was negligible.
Forest Guards Service.-The total number of persons arrest- ed and charged with forestry offences by Forest Guards during the year was 156, of these 129 were nned or imprisoned, 18 cautioned, 4 had their bail estreated, cases against 2 were dis- missed, 1 was bound over and cases against 2 were withdrawn
The Police Department arrested and charged 98 persons with forestry offences, of these 90 were fined or imprisoned, 1 had bail estreated and 7 were discharged.
IIA.
Full particulars of these cases are given in Tables I, II and
Organised raids on plantations were less frequent than usual. This was undoubtedly largely due to exemplary punishment inflicted by Police Magistrates and District Officers and to the absence of old offenders with one or more previous convictions, of whom 8 were banished during the year.
Courts of Inquiry under Ordinance No. 6 of 1917 were held at the villages of Lung Kwu Tan and Mui Tze Lam, where extensive illicit felling of wild trees had occurred. In both cases the villages were fined.
One contractor paid $50 compensation for damage done to roadside trees.
Forest Service Paths. The service path at Taipo Kau Forestry Reserve was extended and other paths in all parts of the Colony were given such attention as they required.
AGRICULTURE, ETC.
The Ground Nut crop in all parts of the Colony was very poor, owing to the damage done by a fungoid disease.
An exhibit of foreign vegetables was staged at the New Territories Agricultural Show, which was held for the second time at Fan Ling.
Page 450Page 451
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