COLONIAL SECRETARIAT
BRARY
21
Hematite, Manganese, Granite for building purposes, and Kaolin for bricks and porcelain. It would appear that the present tendency is towards scientific deep prospecting and large scale mining, as compared with the shallow workings of the past. Since 1936 twenty applications for prospecting licences and six applications for mining licences have been received.
Hong Kong mining law is codified in the Mining and Prospecting Ordinance, No. 7 of 1906. The power given to the Governor-in-Council to fix the charges for licences and leases is at present waived, and such charges are determined according to the circumstances of each case.
There are four mining leases in existence at the present time. The Hong Kong Clays and Kaolin Co., Ltd., prior to the Sino-Japanese hostilities, was employing twelve to thirty coolies on daily wage, and producing 2,500 tons of good quality kaolin per annum. Marsman (Hong Kong) China Ltd. employs 500 coolies at the Needle Hill wolfram mine, and had recovered 1,640 piculs of this ore, mostly exported to England, up to the end of 1938. The ore is purchased from sub-contractors on a sliding scale, the company providing all facilities such as power, plant, transport, accommodation etc. At the Lin Ma Hang mine the Hong Kong Mines Co., Ltd., is working a galena deposit for silver and lead by underground methods on the adit system. The ore carries an average of 2.5 oz. per short ton of silver and 10.4% lead. A labour force of five hundred, with a plant of 575 H.P., is employed. 5,526 short tons of concentrates carrying 15.8 oz. per short ton silver and 69% lead have so far been produced at a cost of £12 per ton. At Ma On Shan the New Territories Mining Co., Ltd., employs 120 contract coolies under Chinese management to mine an outcrop of magnetite iron ore on the quarry system. Approximately 8,000 tons have been produced since 1931.
Mining generally in the Colony is as yet in its infancy and at present there are no adequate regulations for the inspection and control of the existing mines. It is possible that more mines will be opened in the near future and the Government has under consideration detailed measures for the more effective control of all mining activities.
During the year 1938 an investigation into general mining conditions in the Colony was carried out by Mr. A. E. P. Kershaw, Senior Inspector of Mines, Perak, Federated Malay States. Mr. Kershaw submitted a report on the control measures which the Government should adopt in respect of local mining, which has been printed as Sessional Paper No. 14 of 1938.
Forestry.
The history of forestry work in the Colony consists of progressive afforestation of a bare, hilly country. The greater part of Hong Kong Island has now been afforested, the older plantations being about sixty years of age. In the New Territories certain definite areas have been afforested, while a movement to interest the local population in the value of forests, initiated in 1904, has produced a sparse forest covering in the neighbourhood of villages.
The aims of local afforestation may be summed up as follows:-
(1) To provide a forest covering to the hilly country.
(2) To prevent further erosion of the numerous slopes.
(3) For hydrological reasons, i.e. to assist in the conservation of rainfall, etc., with its resultant effect upon the Colony's water supply and agricultural areas.
(4) To build up timber reserves on Crown land.
Commercial exploitation of the forest reserves is not contemplated. Such timber as is extracted is in the nature of typhoon-damaged trees or necessary thinnings. The native afforestation scheme provides the peasant population with fuel for domestic use.
COLONIAL SECRETARIAT
BRARY
21
Hematite, Manganese, Granite for building purposes, and Kaolin for bricks and porcelain. It would appear that the present tendency is towards scientific deep prospecting and large scale mining, as compared with the shallow workings of the Since 1936 twenty applications for prospecting licences and six applications for mining licences have been received.
Hong Kong mining law is codified in the Mining and Prospecting Ordinance, No. 7 of 1906. The power given to the Governor-in-Council to fix the charges for licences and leases is at present waived, and such charges are determined according to the circumstances of each case.
There are four mining leases in existence at the present time. The Hong Kong Clays and Kaolin Co., Ltd., prior to the Sino-Japanese hostilities, was employing twelve to thirty coolies on daily wage, and producing 2,500 tons of good quality kaolin per annum. Marsman (Hong Kong) China Ltd. employs 500 coolies at the Needle Hill wolfram mine, and had recovered 1,640 piculs of this ore, mostly exported to England, up to the end of 1938. The ore is purchased from sub- contractors on a sliding scale, the company providing all facilities such as power, plant, transport, accommodation etc. At the Lin Ma Hang mine the Hong Kong Mines Co., Ltd., is working a galena deposit for silver and lead by underground methods on the adit system. The ore carries an average of 2.5 oz. per short ton of silver and 10.4% lead. A labour force of five hundred, with a plant of 575 H.P., is employed. 5,526 short tons of concentrates carrying 15.8 oz. per short ton silver and 69% lead have so far been produced at a cost of £12 per ton. At Ma On Shan the New Territories Mining Co., Ltd., employs 120 contract coolies under Chinese management to mine an outcrop of magnetite iron ore on the quarry system. Approximately 8,000 tons have been produced since 1931.
Mining generally in the Colony is as yet in its infancy and at present there are no adequate regulations for the inspection and control of the existing mines. It is possible that more mines will be opened in the near future and the Government has under consideration detailed measures for the more effective control of all mining activities.
During the year 1938 an investigation into general mining conditions in the Colony was carried out by Mr. A. E. P. Kershaw, Senior Inspector of Mines, Perak, Federated Malay States. Mr. Kershaw submitted a report on the control measures which the Government should adopt in respect of local mining, which has been printed as Sessional Paper No. 14 of 1938.
Forestry.
The history of forestry work in the Colony consists of progressive afforestation of a bare, hilly country. The greater part of Hong Kong Island has now been afforested, the older plantations being about sixty years of age. In the New Territories certain definite areas have been afforested, while a movement to interest the local population in the value of forests, initiated in 1904, has produced a sparse forest covering in the neighbourhood of villages.
The aims of local afforestation may be summed up as follows:-
(1) To provide a forest covering to the hilly country.
(2) To prevent further erosion of the numerous slopes.
(3) For hydrological reasons, i.e. to assist in the conservation of rainfall, etc., with its resultant effect upon the Colony's water supply and agricultural areas.
(4) To build up timber reserves on Crown land.
Commercial exploitation of the forest reserves is not contemplated. Such timber as is extracted is in the nature of typhoon-damaged trees or necessary thinnings. The native afforestation scheme provides the peasant population with fuel for domestic
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