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tendency duo to heavy crops being anticipated in the main sugar producing centres. This affected prices unprofitably in Hongkong and the East. Later a reaction in prices took place due to shortnesD in the European beet crops, and values mounted up here in common with other parts of the world, but the more prosperous results, which these circninstances placed within the reach of the Hongkong refin- eries, were nullified by the outbreak of the Revolution, which reduced local demand to a minimum.
Cotton Spinning--Owing to the high prices required for cotton during the early part of last year, it was impossible to work at a profit and one mill was closed for nino months. Towards the end of the year the Revolution in China dislocated business and the outlook is still unsatisfactory.
Rope Manufacturing.There is very little requiring special com- ment, and the trade for the year has gone on without any distinguish- ing feature. The power of absorption of the local and adjacent markets seems to vary very little. The price of hemp has been fairly steady throughout the year, the extreme fluctuation not exceed- ing $3 per picul in Manila.
Cement. ---There has been a fair demand throughout the year.
Brewing-The Oriental Browery, of which hopes of success were confidently expressed in 1910, was unfortunately unable to compete with other breweries and has passed into liquidation.
(ii)-Under Chinese Management.
Rattan and Fibre Furniture.-Business showed a slight falling off. There are forty-one firms, large and small, in the trade.
Natice Tobacco.-There are twenty-six factories in existence. Business is still unsatisfactory owing to the competition in China of foreign tobacco corporations and the sale of foreign cigarettes. The local tobacco crops were fairly good.
Tinner Goods.--This business increased moderately, and con- siderable exports have been made to Annam and Singapore.
Sunashu--The local manufacturers of native spirits report hav- ing had a good year. The total local output of all kinds of native spirits (including the New Territories! was nearly 1,100,000 gallons, as against 800,000 gallons in 1910. This increase is due to a decrease in import from China consequent on the recent unrest.
Vinegar--All the large native distilleries produce vinegar as well as Samshu. The yearly output of the seven largest firms amounted to some 850,000 gallons. The figures given for 1910 (two million gallons) were probably wrong.
Knitted Vests and Socks.-There are five factories in existence. A large local demand, which has lately still further increased, exists for these articles.
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Leather. There are eight local tanneries. The high price of hides affected the business adversely, and the volume of trade fell off by about 10%.
Ginger and Preserves.--The volume of business done still showed a decrease and was affected by the price of sugar. There are fourteen factories in the Colony.
Soy. There is no improvement to report in this trade which remains dull.
Paper. The trade still shows satisfactory progress.
Vermilion-The volume of this trade has again fallen off and at the end of the year the demand for this commodity was almost non-existent.
Lard.-Much of the lard manufactured in the Colony is exported to the Philippines where regulations require the purity of animal products to be certified. The local manufacturers of lard made from animals killed in the Colony willingly comply with the regulations. The output still increases. During 1911 a lard and meat factory was started purely in the interests of the Philippine trade.
(e.) FISHERIES.
A considerable proportion of the host population of Hongkong supports itself by deep-sea 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. Since the middle of last year a Steam Trawler has heen engaged in fishing over various grounds, and has contributed its hauls to the local markets. Fresh water fish is iinported from Canton and the West River. There are oyster beds of considerable value in Deep Bay.
(7) FORESTRY, AGRICULTURE AND BOTANY.
The formation of pine-tree plantations in the Harbour Belt be- tween Laichikok and Lyenun has been continued to the extent of about 300 acres, and sites which failed in the area sown in the pro- vious year have been resown. This Belt has now been completod.
Mt. Davis and an area of about 70 acres at Aberdeen where pine- trees were felled in 1910 under the timber contract have been resown with pine-tree seeds.
The areas cleared by fire last year on the slopo of Mt. Kellett which descends to Aberdeen have also been resown with pine-tree seeds.
On Mt. Gough, where a fire occurred last year, about 1,800 sites have been sown with seeds of broad-leaved trees.
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