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Sugar Refining---The year 1910 was not a favourable one for the Sugar Refining Industry of the Colony as there was not a good demand in the China markets while the growers in Java have lately made arrangements for shipping their produce direct to the markets without transhipment in Hongkong.
As was the case in 1908 and 1909 Beetroot sugar did not find its way into the China market in any appreciable quantity,
Cotton Spinning-This industry has been satisfactory throughout the year.
The supply of raw material was good.
Rope Manufacturing.--Business steady and prices have remained the same.
Cement. There has been a good demand throughout the year.
Brewing. The Oriental Brewery continued working through- out the year and there seems every prospect of their getting a firm hold on the Eastern markets. Over 100,000 gallons of beer and stout were brewed during the year.
same.
(ii.).----Under Chinese Management.
Rattan and Fibre Furniture.---Business remained about the
There are forty-one firms large and small in the trade.
Native Tobacco.-There are twenty-six factories in existence. Business has fallen off owing to the competition in China of foreign tobacco corporations and the greatly increased sale of foreign cigarettes. The local tobacco crop was also below the average.
Tinned Goods.--This business increased moderately.
Samshu-The local manufacturers of native spirits report having had a good year on the whole. The institution of liquor duties has improved the position of the local producer vis à vis the producer in Chinese Territory who has to pay the various transit duties of his own country as well as the new Hongkong duties. In September there was a temporary flooding of the market by large importations from Kwong Tung due to the proposal of the Chinese Authorities to establish a liquor tax in the province.
The total local output of all kinds of native spirits (including the New Territories) was over 800,000 gallons.
Vinegar-All the large native distilleries produce vinegar as well as Samshu. The yearly output of the seven largest firms amounted to some two million gallons.
Knitted Vests and Soeks.---There are four factories in existence, and a fifth in course of erection. There is a large local demand for these articles.
Leather-There are eight local tanneries.
price of hides affected the business adversely.
An increase in the
Ginger and Preserves.-The volume of business done shewed a slight decrease and profits were affected by a rise in the price of Bugar. There are fourteen factories in the Colony.
Soy. There is no improvement to report in this trade which remains dull.
Paper--The mill produced more paper, and the prices obtained were higher than last year.
Vermilion. There was a further falling off in this trade.
Lard-Much of the lard manufactured in the Colony is exported to the Philippines, where new regulations were introduced during the year requiring the purity of animal products to he certified. The local manufacturers of lard made from animals killed in the Colony have found no difficulty in complying with the regulations. The output has increased considerably, and the price has also risen.
(c.) FISHERIES.
A considerable proportion of the boat-population of Hongkong supports itself by deepsea fishing in which pursuit a large number of junks are engaged. The villages of Aberdeen, Stanley, Shauki- wan, and also many in the New Territories are largely dependent upon this industry for their prosperity. There will soon be steani trawlers engaged in this industry and regulations have been made by the Government for their control. Fresh water fish is imported from Canton and the West River. There are oyster beds of con- siderable value in Deep Bay.
(d) FORESTRY, AGRICULTURE AND BOTANY.
The formation of pine tree plantations in the Harbour Belt between Lai-chi-kok and Lyemup has been continued to the ex- tent of about 400 acres, and sites which failed in the area sown in 1909 have been resown. About 2,000 broad-leaved trees of differ- ent kinds have been planted on the bills at Shaukiwan and 400 Tristanias and 200 Eucalyptus at Quarry Bay,
Shade trees in Hongkong and Kowloon have been renewed where necessary, and flowering trees and shrubs have been planted in various places on the roads and hills in Ilongkong where they will be readily seen when in flower. Banian trees have been planted on the approach ronds to Yaumati and Taipo railway stations. Under the timber contract, 200 acres of Pine forest at Mt. Davis. and 70 acres at Aberdeen have been felled. Approximately 2,000,000 square feet of undergrowth have been cleared at the cost of the Government. 300,000 square feet at the cost of the Military
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