:
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Between Autau and Castle Peak, 1,450 Melaleuca were planted on the side of the road which had been recently widened.
Sixty-three (63) broad-leaved trees were planted along the com- pleted portion of the Frontier Road.
The Lok Ma Chow Road, which was completed in 1918, was planted up with 172 Candle-nut trees.
Owing to the widening of the Sheungshui Road 22 trees had to be transplanted.
Planting was continued along the Chenngshawan-Castle Peak coastal road, and 1,993 trees of various kinds were put in.
One hundred and thirty-two (132) Camphor and 10 Celtis trees were planted between the 4th mile on the Taipo Road and the level- crossing at Shatin, and on the banks of the road 260 flowering shrubs.
Between the level-crossing at Shatin and Taipo 256 Melaleuca and 74 Erythrina were planted, and 20 Camphor and 8 Albizzia transplanted
cut.
Creepers encircling trees in the Repulse Bay plantations were
Caterpillars were discovered on pine trees in the Kowloon planta- tions in May, and 920 catties (1,227 lbs.) were collected and destroyed. About 3,400,000 square feet of undergrowth were cleared in connection with anti-malarial measures.
For survey and other purposes about 5,800,000 square feet of undergrowth were cleared.
Vegetables were grown in the economic garden, Fanling, for demonstration purposes.
The first rice crop was very good and the second good. Lichees were poor, peanuts fair, sugarcane and pineapples good.
In connection with the export of Narcissus bulbs to America 5,012 cases containing 627,630 bulbs were inspected and certified as apparently free from insect pests and fungus diseases.
Several hundred specimens of Kwongtung plants were presented to the Department by the Canton Christian College, 100 Chinese plants by the Nanking University, 150 Hainan plants by Mr. C. Talbot Bowring, and 332 Australian plants by the Director of the Botanic Gardens, Sydney,
A few additions were made to the local Flora.
(e) LAND GRANTS AND GENERAL VALUE OF LAND.
The net amount of premium received from sales of Crown land and pier rights for the year 1919 was $250.260, an increase of $6,730 on the preceding year and 365,323 more than the average for the past five years.
The principal items were 233,870 in respect of Inland Lot No. 2273, $32,350 in respect of an extension of Marine Lot No. 277, $20,200 in respect of Kowloon Inland Lot No. 1382, and $19,360 in respect of Kowloon Inland Lot No. 1383.
In the New Territories the net amount received for premium on sales of land was $12,277 being a decrease of $41,775 on the preceding year.
The number of deeds registered in the Land Office was 3,021, and exceeded that of any previous year, being 99 more than during the preceding year, which was a record year, the total consideration being $60.152,735 as against $47,726,785 in 1918.
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The Government resumed several large areas during the year including Rural Building Lot No. 111, Kowloon Inland Lot No. 96, the Remaining Portion of Inland Lot No. 82, Kowloon Farm Lot No. 11, and the Agricultural Lots in Ma Tau Chung and Ma Tau Wei Villages.
The total area of land granted during the year was 163 acres of which 127 acres were situated in the New Territories. The total area of land resumed was 89 acres.
In the Northern District of the New Territories nearly all the sites on the Taipo Fishpond Reclamation have been taken up and several excellent buildings erected. A few European houses have been erected in the neighbourhood of Sheung Shui and Kam Tsin.
In the Southern District the demand for land has been normal but there are signs of the increasing popularity of Cheung Chau as a summer resort and consequent activity in buikling.
II.--LEGISLATION.
Twenty-three (23) Ordinances were passed during 1919 of which six were amendments of previous Ordinances.
The most important of these Ordinances were :-
The Non-Ferrous Metal Industry (No. 1), the object of which
is to prevent former enemies from making attacks on essential businesses and on the possession of essential raw materials when the war comes to an end and when they shall cease to be of the status of enemies..
The Union Insurance Society of Canton Limited (Capital Con- version) (No. 4).
The British Traders Insurance Company Limited (Capital Con- version) (No. 5).
The Bank of Canton Limited (Capital Conversion) (No. 6).
These are private enactments which were passed for converting their silver capital into gol.
The Cheung Chau (Residence) (No. 14)--a measure for reserving the southern portion of the island known as Dumb-beil Island for residence of missionaries and other persons subject to the consent of the Governor in Council being obtained.
The Sugar Convention (No. 19), the object being to relieve both the Imperial Government and the Colonial Administration from their obligations under the Brussels Sugar Convention.
The Rice (No. 20), the object of which is for the acquisition and disposal of Rice by the Hongkong Government, and for validating acts previously done.
The Places of Public Entertainment Regulation (No. 22).--This is a consolidating and amending Ordinance. The principal aunend- ments effected are to render public cinematograph displays subject to permits being granted.
IV. EDUCATION.
No important changes have taken place in the Education Depart- ment during the year under review. The Staff has been depleted
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