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31. The total number of persons arrested by Forest Guards for all classes of forestry offences was 615. The Police made arrests to the number of 2,520; making in all a total of 3,135 for the year. Of this number 1,942 (61.94%) were arrested during the last three months of the year.
Particulars of the cases are given in Tables I & II.
32. Preservation of Local Flora.-As recorded in previous years the necessity for protecting the local flora is very great. During the year under review very much damage was done to the local shrub flora in forests and on hillsides adjacent to thickly and poorly populated areas. Much of this was due to the situation described under paragraph 30, but in this case the offenders did not discriminate between the various plants, gathering whatever came their way. While this is very serious, the more insidious trouble comes from those offenders who have realised the market value, from a plant and flower point of view, of the more showy and attractive species. So far as is possible, with the staff available, some check has been kept on this, but frequent inspections of flower markets, market gardens, etc., are very necessary to maintain control of this evil. The policy of removing to the forest reserves such species as are badly threatened, is being vigorously pursued.
33. Protection of Plantations.-The clearing of all fire barriers and forestry paths was carried out before the commencement of the dry season. The total length of old fire barriers dealt with was 54 miles and forestry paths 49 miles. New fire barriers were made at Tai Hang and Tsat Tze Mui.
34. Undergrowth Clearing-In Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories, the total areas cleared of undergrowth for various reasons, totalled 3,449,890 sq. feet. Other clearing carried out in connection with surveys, building development and traffic requirements, amounted to 1,310,580 square feet. This represents a total of 4,760,420 square feet or slightly less than 34 acres.
35. Typhoon Damage.-Great damage was caused to trees generally by the typhoon of September 2nd. The roadside trees and those in more or less isolated positions suffered heavily, while in plantations a great deal of damage was done. However, one forest area in the Fanling District, proved the immense value of producing and maintaining an unbroken forest canopy in a Colony such as Hong Kong, which is visited periodically by typhoons of greater or lesser intensity. This particular plantation had not received any thinning nor had it been subjected to the unwelcome attentions of illicit tree cutters. It is not possible to give figures for the devastation caused on this
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31. The total number of persons arrested by Forest Guards for all classes of forestry offences was 615. The Police made arrests to the number of 2,520; making in all a total of 3,135 for the year. Of this number 1,942 (61.94%) were arrested during the last three months of the year.
Particulars of the cases are given in Tables I & II.
32. Preservation of Local Flora.-As recorded in previous years the necessity for protecting the local flora is very great. During the year under review very much damage was done to the local shrub flora in forests and on hillsides adjacent to thickly and poorly populated areas. Much of this was due to the situation described under paragraph 30, but in this case the offenders did not discriminate between
between the various plants, gathering whatever came their way. While this is very serious,
the more insidious trouble comes from those offenders who have realised the market value, from a plant and flower point of view, of the more showy and attractive species. So far as is possible, with the staff available, some check has been kept on this, but frequent inspections of flower markets, market gardens, etc., are very necessary to maintain control of this evil. The policy of removing to the forest reserves such species as are badly threatened, is being vigorously pursued.
33. Protection of Plantations.-The clearing of all fire bar- riers and forestry paths was carried out before the commence- ment of the dry season. The total length of old fire barriers dealt with was 54 miles and forestry paths 49 miles. New fire barriers were made at Tai Hang and Tsat Tze Mui.
34. Undergrowth Clearing-In Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories, the total areas cleared of undergrowth for various reasons, totalled 3,449,890 sq. feet. Other clearing carried out in connection with surveys, building development and traffic requirements, amounted to 1,310,580 square feet. This represents a total of 4,760,420 square feet or slightly less than 34 acres.
35. Typhoon Damage.-Great damage was caused to trees generally by the typhoon of September 2nd. The roadside trees and those in more or less isolated positions suffered heavily, while in plantations a great deal of damage was done. How- ever, one forest area in the Fanling District, proved the immense value of producing and maintaining an unbroken forest canopy in a Colony such as Hong Kong, which is visited periodically by typhoons of greater or lesser intensity. This particular plantation had not received any thinning nor had it been sub- jected to the unwelcome attentions of illicit tree cutters. It is not possible to give figures for the devastation caused on this
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