13.
18
Areas which can be made available for Agriculture
The total area of the Colony is 249,885 acres (approx.
390.48 sq. miles). The area under cultivation is
50,126.50 acres (78.3 sq. miles) or approx. 20%.
By calculation the New Territories uncultivated areas
are estimated at 180,779 acres (approx. 282.4 sq. miles).
Of this area,
it is difficult to estimate (i) areas
unsuitable for agricultural development and (ii) areas
necessary for afforestation purposes. It is proposed
therefore, to consider one fourth of the area as possible
land for development. This gives an area of 45,195 acres (70.6 sq. miles) which added to present acreage nearly
doubles the agricultural area. Considered in terms of
possible production of foodstuffs, together with improved
crops, this gives food for thought as to the lines of the
future agricultural policy of this Colony. An example of
what can happen, when local wasteful operations are
controlled, is provided by the island of Hong Kong, where
the hills are gradually re-afforestating themselves, the
process being accelerated by the activities of the Botanical
and Forestry Department. Such progress is the result of a
definite afforestation policy and of inhibitions. A
similar result is equally possible on New Territories upper slopes, thus releasing the lower slopes and foothills for agricultural purposes. In regard to areas which obviously, are of the less productive type (e.g. sections of Castle Peak area and some of the islands) it may be possible to consider them for stock raising purposes (vide (o) page 4). This would require special efforts towards producing suit- able foodstuffs and pasture land for these areas.
Crops These have already been enumerated and, from the shortness of the list, it would appear that economic crops
of successful and profitable cultivation are few in number.
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