148
14
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
Preserved Ginger.-Canton has long been noted for its preserved ginger.
The manufacture has now been transferred to Hong Kong where there are a number of factories, three of which do a large export business.
Soy.-Soy is a sauce made by boiling the beans of the "Glycine hispida, Maxim," adding an equal quantity of wheat or barley and leaving the mass to ferment. A layer of salt and three times as much water as beans are afterwards added, and the whole compound stirred daily for two months, when the liquid is pressed and strained. Seven or eight Chinese factories are engaged in the manufacture of soy in Hong Kong, and three firms export it to Europe. It is also exported to America. The wholesale price is about $20 the cask of 700 lbs. Business during the year has been dull.
Paper.-There is one paper mill capable of turning out 9,000 lbs. of paper in 24 hours. At present only half the machinery is used and about 100 men are employed. The mill is lighted by electricity. Most of the paper is exported to China; a little goes to the Straits Settlements and elsewhere to the South. The rags are collected from all over south China; the other materials are imported from England.
Vermilion.-There are three vermilion factories. Their average annual output is stated to be about 830 piculs. There is a demand for the vermilion all over the Far East from Japan to Calcutta. This business is falling off, owing, probably, to the primitive methods of manufacture.
Lard.-There are seven lard factories in existence-the largest turning out about 60,000 piculs a year and the remaining six about 12,000. The lard is exported to the Philippines, the Straits Settlements, &c., and to Rangoon. Business during the year showed no increase.
(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 Territories are largely dependent upon this industry for their prosperity. Fresh water fish is imported from Canton and the West River. There are oyster beds of considerable value in Deep Bay.
(d.)—FORESTRY, AGRICULTURE, AND BOTANY.
The formation of pine tree plantations in the Harbour Belt between Lai-chi-kok and Lyemun has been continued to the extent of 300 acres, and failures in the older plantations in this area, in the catchment areas of Kowloon and Tytam Reservoirs, and in the felled areas of Mount Kellet and Aberdeen have been made good. A few seedlings of the Nanmu or coffin-wood tree have been planted on the north side of Mount Victoria, the south side of Mount Kellet, and at Aberdeen. A few eucalyptus seedlings have also been planted at the latter place.
Page 155
Page 156
148
14
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
Preserved Ginger.-Canton has long been noted for its preserved ginger.
The manufacture has now been transferred to Hong Kong where there are a number of factories, three of which do a large export busines.
Soy.-Soy is a sauce made by boiling the beans of the "Glycine hispida, Maxim," adding an equal quantity of wheat or barley and leaving the mass to ferment. A layer of salt and three times as much water as beans are afterwards added, and the whole com- pound stirred daily for two months, when the liquid is pressed and strained. Seven or eight Chinese factories are engaged in the manufacture of soy in Hong Kong, and three firms export it to Europe. It is also exported to America. The wholesale price is about $20 the cask of 700 lbs. Business during the year has been dull.
Paper.-There is one paper mill capable of turning out 9,000 lbs. of paper in 24 hours. At present only half the machinery is used and about 100 men are employed. The mill is lighted by electricity. Most of the paper is exported to China; a little goes to the Straits Settlements and elsewhere to the South. The rags are collected from all over south China; the other materials are imported from England.
Vermilion.-There are three vermilion factories. Their average annual output is stated to be about 830 piculs. There is a demand for the vermilion all over the Far East from Japan to Calcutta. This business is falling off, owing, probably, to the primitive methods of manufacture.
Lard.-There are seven lard factories in existence-the largest turning out about 60,000 piculs a year and the remaining six about 12,000. The lard is exported to the Philippines, the Straits Set- tlements, &c., and to Rangoon. Business during the year showed no increase.
(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, Shau- kiwan, and many others in the New Territories are largely depen- dent upon this industry for their prosperity. Fresh water fish is imported from Canton and the West River. There are oyster beds of considerable value in Deep Bay.
d.)—FORESTRY, AGRICULTURE, AND BOTANY.
The formation of pine tree plantations in the Harbour Belt between Lai-chi-kok and Lyemun has been continued to the extent of 300 acres, and failures in the older plantations in this area, in the catchment areas of Kowloon and Tytam Reservoirs, and in th felled areas of Mount Kellet and Aberdeen have been made good. A few seedlings of the Nanmu or coffin-wood tree have been planted on the north side of Mount Victoria, the south side of Mount Kellet, and at Aberdeen. A few eucalyptus seedlings have also been planted at the latter place.
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