Directory_and_Chronicle_1890 — Page 413

HONGKONG,

Chung Ngoi San Po, which is the oldest and most influential, published at the Daily Press Office; the Wa Tez Yat Po, or Chinese Mail; the T'sun Wan Yat Po, the Yut Po, and the Wai San Yat Po. The Government Gazette is published once a week.

The approaches to the harbour are now strongly fortified, the batteries consisting of well constructed earthworks. The western entrance is protected by three batteries on Stonecutter's Island and two forts on Belcher and Fly Points, from which a tremendous converging fire could be maintained, completely commanding the Sulphur Channel. The Ly-ee-moon Pass is defended by two forts at the entrance, and if vessels survived that fire they would then have to face the batteries at North Point and Hungham, which completely command the eastern entrance. Another battery on the bluff at Tsim-tsa Tsui, Kowloon, commands the whole of the centre of the harbour. It is intended to arm these batteries with the latest breach-loading ordnance.

The natural productions of the Colony are few and unimportant. There is little land suitable for tillage, and nothing is grown but a little rice and some vegetables near the outlying villages. There are large granite quarries, and there is a small export of this stone. In 1889 a galena lode was discovered in the nullah above the Tytam Service Reservoir in Victoria, which gives indications of proving rich enough to warrant working. A bed of fire clay exists at Deep Bay, and bricks are manufac- tured there from it. The forests now being planted may one day become a source of

revenue.

Manufactures are yearly incr asing in importance. There are three large sugar refineries: the China Sugar Refining Co's establishments at East Point and at Bowrington, and the Taikoo Sugar Refinery at Quarry Bay. In connection with the first-named Company there is also a large Distillery, where a considerable quantity of rum is manufactured. There is an Ice Factory at Bowrington, a large Rope Factory in Belcher's Bay, Steam Saw Mills at Bowrington, a Steam Furniture Factory at Wan- chai, and two or three Engineering Works. The works of the Hongkong Brick and Cement Company are situated in Deep Bay, on the south side of the island. Among the industries pursued by the Chinese are glass blowing, opium boiling, vermillion aud soy manufacture, tanning, dyeing; beancurd, toothpowder, match, cigar making, &c., &c.

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A good bridle road leads up to the summit of Victoria Peak, with numerous other paths branching off from it at Victoria Gap along the adjoining hills. tramway, worked on the wire rope system, has been laid to the Victoria Gap, the lower terminus being close to S. John's Cathedral, and was opened to traffic on the 30th May, 1888. Within the past few years the number of bungalows and houses on and about the Peak has increased so much that they now form quite a considerable alpine village. The Military erected a sanitarium on the heights in 1883; and in June of the same year the Peak Church was opened for worship there. There is a hotel at Victoria Gap, near the Tramway terminus, and another is in course of erection. excellent and well graded road, commercing on the Bowen road, leads to Magazine Gap, near which a second till village of foreign r sidences has been formed.

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There are several villages on the island, the largest of which is Shau-ki Wan, situate in a bay in the Li-ü Mun Pass. Aberdeen, on the south of the island, possesses a well sheltered little harbour, much frequented by fishing craft. Two large docks of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company are situated there, and add to the importance of the place. Pokfolum, on the road to Aberdeen, about four miles from Victoria, is a place of resort for European residents in the hot weather, and some elegant bungalows have been erected in pleasant and picturesque sit ations, commanding fine sea views and cool breezes. The sanitarium of the Fr.nch Missions is located at Pokfolum, and is a fine building with an elegant chapel attached. The Dairy Farm is also situated there. Stanley, situated in a small bay on the south-east of the island, was once the site of a military station, but most of the barrack buildings were pulled down some years ago, and the village is stagnant. There are good carriage roads from Victoria both to Aberdeen and Shau- ki Wan, and a bridle road to Stanley.