MEMORANDUM ON THE SALT INDUSTRY
IN HONGKONG.
THE INDUSTRY AS CARRIED ON IN
THE NEW TERRITORY.
The following Memorandum has been draws up rather hurriedly, from investigations conducted by me at rather short notice among the Chinese engaged in the salt manufacturing industry in the New Territory and the native dealers in Hongkong. In the circum- stance, the facts and figures herein contained may be subject to cor- rection in certain particulars. The Memorandum is presented in its present form in view of the urgent necessity there exists for its sub- mission to Government. If, in the light of subsequent investigations conducted by the Sub-Committee, it should be considered necessary to amend the Memorandum in any particular, such changes will be embodied in it as the circumstances of the case may demand, when a supplementary Memorandum will be forwarded.
1. Salt pans are to be found principally in Tai O and Castle Peak. In addition to these places, salt in small quantities is also produced in the neighbourhood of Sha Tau Kuk. In Taj O, there are two places where salt pans exist covering a surface area of over one hundred "mows (about 6
" mows acre), In Castle Peak, there are salt pans of a total area not equal I exceeding one hundred "mows."
2. It is believed that in the neighbourhood of Tai-po over 20 "mows" of seashore are suitable for laying out into salt-pans; but it will be necessary to build dykes, which are said to be rather expensive.
3. The quantity of salt produced in a single year throughout the New Territories amounts to about 100,000 piculs. The selling price is $1 for a quantity of between 140 and 150 catties. This sait is generally bought by salt junks for delivery to salt shops for consumption by the inhabitants.
4. Shops have been kept, land rented and labourers engaged for the purpose of drying salt. At present there are three shops at Tai O and one at Castle Peak. With regard to the salt produced in the New Territory, it was only a few years ago that the commodity was sold wholesale to the Hong- kong salt dealers to the extent of some 10,000 piculs yearly. With the exception of this sale, no salt has ever been sold direct to the salt shops in any year,
5. Salt from foreign ports has been imported into Tai O to supply the need of fishing boats for curing the fish after each catch.
6. The sait produced in the New Territory is generally 20 catties cheaper than foreign salt for every $1 in value, for the reason that it has been found to contain less saline, and the fishermen have not used it for curing their fish. Moreover, it is soft and unreliable in quality. It is over ten catties lighter in weight than foreign salt when measured by the quantity contained in each bag.
7. Salt pans are usually constructed with native labour in most places along the Coast. In the New Territory of Hong- kong and its vicinity, salt pans suffer from conatant floods from the West River down through the Pearl River, and also from the overflow of water of the East River. In some cases when there is a flood, the salt water of the sea will change its colour, and at such a time salt cannot be prepared. In other cases, when heavy downpours of rain prevail, the saline property of the sea water is reduced, and at such a time also salt cannot be made.
8. The rent for each "mow "of land in the New Ter- ritory used for salt pans varies from $8 to $10 a year. In some cases the rent is lower: $7 or $8 per
J mow." west where sait can be dried by exposing it to the sun are con- Those facing sidered of the highest class, while others are considered not quite so good.
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