CO129-568-6 Botanical and Forestry Department- proposed expansion and reorganisation 4-10-1938 - 14-7-1939 — Page 46

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considered in case the need should arise at a future date for

exploitation of the Colony's timber resources in this connection.

It is proposed therefore to proceed as follows:-

(a) To develop Pine forests in the more recently

planted areas where feasible by discouraging

the development of local tree and shrub types

beneath them. This will encourage the Pines

to regenerate naturally and the areas to remain

as pure Pine stands.

(b) To confine afforestation activities to valleys

and lower hills leaving the upper slopes and

high ridges under grass and scrub except where

erosion may necessitate action. The afforestation

operations carried out on the lower elevations

and in the valleys control erosion from these

of areas, while the grass and scrub covering/the

peaks and high ridges serves a similar purpose

at the higher elevations. By further mass

afforestation methods there is a great danger

that the herbaceous small flora of Hong Kong

may be eliminated.

(c) To develop a few plantations consisting of pure

stands of Camphor, Eucalyptus, etc.

Mainland. As already stated afforestation has been

concentrated in certain areas, these are (i) Customs Pass (ii)

Diamond Hill (iii) Kowloon Reservoir and Tai Wo Po (iv) Taipo

Kau Forest Reserve and (v) Fanling. (i) and (ii) have suffered

heavily from the ravages of typhoons and the depredations of

illicit tree cutters. (iii) only to a slightly lesser extent

in some parts (iv) is more or less intact and (v) has suffered

severely from the recent typhoons.

Further development on the Mainland must take into

consideration the following points: a) Military requirements

and (b) the "leased lot" system controlled by the District