CO129-581-10 Control measures to be adopted for local mines- report by senior Inspector of Mines 1-1-1939 - 31-12-1939 — Page 2

C. I.

M.

(1) SESSIONAL PAPER 14/38. (REPORT

INHICH

4.K. GOVT SHOULD ADOPT

LOCAL MINING.

ON

MEASURES

IN RESPECT Orz

53942/39

The following is a summary of the

OF

recommendations contained in this report, which has

been drawn up by the Senior Inspector of Mines,

Perak, on the subject of the control measures which

Hong Kong should adopt to regulate mining in the

Colony.

1. Owing to the absence of any complete

geological survey of the Colony, and particularly

the New Territories, the mining potentialities

of Hong Kong are unknown, and the first recommenda-

tion of this report is that such a survey should be

completed at an early date. This is especially

desirable, since the present tendency is

apparently for scientific deep prospecting and

mining, backed by adequate capital.

Mr. Kershaw

recommends that this tendency should be encouraged

by (a) the issue of titles at low fees, and (b) the

remission of royalty during the development stages

wherever this is considered necessary. Provision

is made for this in the suggested regulations which

form Appendix (1) (Pt.1, section 3). Fees for

leases and prospecting licenses should be fixed

and reasonable (Pt. I, section 4).

2.

1

Mr. Kershaw considers that the present

Hong Kong mining laws are inadequate. The

regulations which were made in 1906 and 1907 were

rescinded in 1934, and the result has been a

complete lack of control of mining operations as

regards rules and penalties. In Mr. Kershaw's

opinion, present mining conditions in the Colony

do not warrant the formation of a Mines Dept.,

consequently

and equently regulations should be in a simple

form