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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 plantations in May, and 92 catties (1,227 lbs.) were collected and destroyed.
About 3,400.000 square feet of undergrowth were cleared in connection with auti-malarial measures.
For survey and other purposes about 5,800,000 square feet of nadergrowth 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 present- ed 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 $250,280, an increase of $6,730 on the preceding year and $65,323 more than the average for the past five years.
The principal items were $33,870 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 $60,152,785 as against $47,720,785 in 1918.
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
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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 Europeau 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 building.
III. LEGISLATION,
Twenty-three (23) Ordinances were passed during 1919 of which six were amendments of previous Ordinances.
The most important matters with which these Ordinances dealt
were:-
The Union Insurance Society of Canton Limited (Capital Con- version) (No. 4).
The British Traders Insurance Company Limited (Capital Conversion) (No. 5).
The Bank of Canton Limited (Capital Conversion) (No, 6). These are private enactments which were passed for converting their silver capital into gold.
The Cheung Chau (Residence) (No. 14)-o measure for reserving the southern portion of the island known as Dumb-bell 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 vali- dating acts previously done.
The Places of Public Entertainment Regulation (No. 22).—This is a consolidating and amending Ordinance. The principal amendments effected are to render public cinematograph displays subject to permits being granted.
Matters in connection with the War-were----
The Non-Ferrous Metal Industry (No. 1), the object of which is to prevent former enemies from making attacks on essential
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