J (1) 5-
30. All but 4 market stalls were occupied, but rents were badly in arrears and stall rents were again reduced in consequence. Business was reported dull.
31. The town of Cheung Chau was seriously damaged by a great fire which broke out at about mid-night on the 18th September, 1936, and involved 23 buildings in the centre of the village. Six were destroyed and 17 badly damaged. The damage is estimated at about $100,000. Fortunately, no lives were lost. Owing to a burnt-out bearing, the local fire engine failed, and the fire was not extinguished until 7:45 a.m. following the arrival of the Hong Kong fire float. The fire engine has now been repaired. It is regularly inspected by a responsible officer of the Fire Brigade.
Tsun Wan.
32. Conditions in Tsun Wan were generally good. Two important lines, distilling and pineapple growing, did poorly, but all others did well, especially rice, vegetables, firewood, and pigs. Lime kilns, long depressed, reported fair trade.
33. The Hong Kong Brewery benefited by the fall in the local dollar, and its business last year was much improved. The Texas Oil Company and the Hume Pipe Company were busy throughout the year. The latter reported very good business, chiefly for export. At Shing Mun, a wolfram mining concession was let to the Marsman Company, a limited company registered in Hong Kong, for a square mile of land overlooking the Shing Mun Dam. Preliminary work is reported satisfactory. The Shing Mun Dam, nearing completion, reduced its staff from 3,000 to 200, chiefly in the latter part of the year. Active building in urban Hong Kong and Tsun Wan is reported to have absorbed a part of this surplus, and a certain number were repatriated under agreement, but many, especially Northerners, have remained in the district permanently unemployed, and larcenies in Tsun Wan have increased in consequence.
The modern Tsun Wan Market was opened on the 8th July, 1936, by the District Officer, South, with accommodation for 24 stalls consisting of 12 fresh meat, 6 vegetable, and 6 fish stalls. The stalls were the object of keen bidding and let for high prices. Since the opening of the market, plans for the erection of 29 new modern-style houses, in accordance with the approved layout, have been submitted, and it is hoped the buildings will be completed in 1937. Prospects of a new reclamation with wharfage facilities and of a modern layout for the new town have caused a great increase in land values, from five to ten times in actual cases, in the neighbourhood of the market.
G. S. KENNEDY-SKIPTON,
District Officer, South.
30th March, 1937.
J (1) 5-
30. All but 4 market stalls were occupied, but rents were badly in arrears and stall rents were again reduced in consequence, Business was reported dull.
31. The town of Cheung Chau was seriously damaged by a great fire which broke out at about mid-night on the 18th September, 1936 and involved 23 buildings in the centre of the village. Six were destroyed and 17 badly damaged. The damage is estimated at about $100,000. Fortunately no lives were lost. Owing to a burnt out bearing the local fire engine failed and the fire was not extinguished until 7.45 a.m. following the arrival of the Hong Kong fire float. The fire engine has now been repaired. It is regularly inspected by a responsible officer of the Fire Brigade.
Tsun Wan.
32. Conditions in Tsun Wan were generally good. Two important lines, distilling and pineapple growing, did poorly but all others did well, especially rice, vegetables, firewood and pigs. Line kilns, long depressed, reported fair trade.
33. The Hong Kong Brewery benefited by the fall in the local dollar and its business last year was much improved. The. Texas Oil Company and the Hume Pipe Company were busy throughout the year. The latter reported very good business, chiefly for export. At Shing Mun a wolfram inining concession was let to the Marsinan Company, a limited company registered in Hong Kong, for a square mile of land overlooking the Shing Mun Dam. Preliminary work is reported satisfactory. The Shing Mun Dam, nearing completion, reduced its staff from 3,000 to 200 chiefly in the latter part of the year. Active building in urban Hong Kong and Tsun Wan is reported to have absorbed a part of this surplus and a certain number were repatriated under agreement, but many, especially Northerners, have remained in the district permanently unemployed and larcenies in Tsun Wan have increased in consequence.
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The modern Tsun Wan Market was opened on the 8th July, 1936, by the District Officer, South, with accommodation for 24 stalls consisting of 12 fresh meat, 6 vegetable and 6 fish stalls. The stalls were the object of keen bidding and let for high prices. Since the opening of the market, plans for the erection of 29 new modern style houses, in accordance with the approved layout, have been submitted and it is hoped the buildings will be completed in 1937. Prospects of a new reclamation with wharfage facilities and of a modern layout for the new town have caused a great increase in land values, from five to ten times in actual cases, in the neighbourhood of the market.
G. S. KENNEDY-SKIPTON, District Officer, South.
30th March, 1937.
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