396
+
12
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
The cotton spinning industry during the first half of 1903 was carried on under not unsatisfactory conditions although the recurrence of plague, by its indirect effect on the labour supply, interfered with production for several months. From June onwards prices fluctuated violently owing to speculative operations, and at the end of the year had reached a figure which made profitable spinning impossible, prices for yarns not having responded to the advance in the prices of the raw material. The outlook for the industry at the end of 1903 was far from promising, and is not likely to improve until cotton be obtainable at a more reasonable figure. If the valleys of the New Territory could be utilised for cotton plantations, whereby the raw material could be procured locally at permanent prices or at least at prices which could be approximately foretold, the industry would undoubtedly receive a much-needed impetus.
In other respects the outlook for industrial enterprise in Hong Kong continues on the whole to be promising.
(C.) FISHERIES.
A considerable proportion of the boat-population of Hong Kong supports itself by deep-sea fishing, in which pursuit a large number of junks are engaged. The villages of Aberdeen, Stanley, Shaukiwan and many others in the New Territory are largely dependent upon this industry for their prosperity. Fresh-water fish is largely imported from Canton and the West River.
(D.) FORESTRY, BOTANICAL SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE.
Afforestation of the island and the New Territory has proceeded normally, the year being a favourable one as regards absence of typhoons and diminution of fires and forestry offences. The Colonial Herbarium was enriched during the year by several small but interesting collections from different parts of China, and was visited by botanists from Europe, America and Japan. The efforts of the Government to improve the cultivation of sugar-cane in the New Territory have been continued by the distribution of better varieties of cane among the farmers. The kinds introduced have grown well at the experimental estate at Castle Peak, and give a better percentage of sugar than any hitherto cultivated in this part of China.
The hilly character of the island and the comparative absence of fertilising soil have prevented agriculture from becoming an active industry in Hong Kong. The area of cultivated land in the island is only a little over 400 acres. The old dependency of British Kowloon, which is chiefly composed of level ground, contains almost the same amount of cultivated land. This, however, tends to diminish as buildings extend. The only part of the Colony where agricultural industries can be expected to thrive
396
+
12
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
The cotton spinning industry during the first half of 1903 was carried on under not unsatisfactory conditions although the recurrence of plague, by its indirect effect on the labour supply, interfered with production for several months. From June onwards prices fluctuated violently owing to speculative opera- tions, and at the end of the year had reached a figure which made profitable spinning impossible, prices for yarns not having responded to the advance in the prices of the raw material. The outlook for the industry at the end of 1903 was far from promis- ing, and is not likely to improve until cotton be obtainable at a more reasonable figure. If the valleys of the New Territory could be utilised for cotton plantations, whereby the raw material could be procured locally at permanent prices or at least at prices which could be approximately foretold, the industry would un- doubtedly receive a much-needed impetus.
In other respects the outlook for industrial enterprise in Hong Kong continues on the whole to be promising.
(C.) FISHERIES.
A considerable proportion of the boat-population of Hong Kong supports itself by deep-sea fishing, in which pursuit a large number of junks are engaged. The villages of Aberdeen, Stanley, Shaukiwan and many others in the New Territory are largely dependent upon this industy for their prosperity. Fresh- water fish is largely imported from Canton and the West River.
(D.) FORESTRY, BOTANICAL SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE,
Afforestation of the island and the New Territory has proceeded normally, the year being a favourable one as regards absence of typhoons and diminution of fires and forestry offences. The Colonial Herbarium was enriched during the year by several small but interesting collections from different parts of China, and was visited by botanists from Europe, America and Japan. The efforts of the Government to improve the cultiva- tion of sugar-cane in the New Territory have been continued by the distribution of better varieties of cane among the farmers. The kinds introduced have grown well at the experimental estate at Castle Peake, and give a better percentage of sugar than any hitherto cultivated in this part of China.
The hilly character of the island and the comparative absence of fertilising soil have prevented agriculture from becoming an active industry in Hong Kong. The area of cultivated land in the island is only a little over 400 acres. The old dependency of British Kowloon, which is chiefly composed of level ground, contains almost the same amount of cultivated land. This, how- ever, tends to diminish as buildings extend. The only part of the Colony where agricultural industries can be expected to thrive
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