Sessional_Paper_1906 — Page 197

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(d.) FORESTRY, BOTANICAL SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE.

116,780 trees were planted in Hongkong during the year, and 50,052 in the New Territory. Further experiments were initiated with a view to utilising the more barren portions of the Colony, notably with the Tea Oil tree (Camellia oleifera) and the Wood Oil tree (Aleurites cordata). Cotton was tried in various representative situations but with very meagre results. Control of the plantations of Pine licensed to Chinese in 1904 was maintained; the few breaches of the rules that occurred were dealt with by withdrawal of the licence.

On the whole the licensing scheme seems to have suited the Chinese.

(e.) LAND GRANTS AND GENERAL VALUE OF LAND.

The amount received from sales of Crown Land was $392,259 76, being some $94,000 less than the receipts for the previous year. This falling off may be attributed to the general depression of business throughout the year and the consequent tightness of the money market.

In the early part of the year the intricate questions connected with Military lands and reserves in the Colony which since 1883 had formed the subject of continual discussion between the Military and Civil authorities were comprehensively dealt with by Major J. F. LEWIS, late R.E., deputed for that purpose by the War Department. An equitable settle- ment was proposed by that Officer, based on principles of which the adoption should minimize the chance of similar difficulties arising in the future. This settlement, accepted by the Governor and the General Officer Commanding, was approved by the Colonial Office, War Office and Treasury.

Building land in the urban portion of the Colony and in the Peak District is limited in extent with the natural consequence that house-rents, especially on the higher levels, have advanced to an extent probably unknown in other British Colonies.

III-LEGISLATION.

Twelve Ordinances were passed during 1905, the most important measure being the New Territories Land Ordinance, No. 3 of 1905, which together with an amending Ordinance, No. 9 of 1905, is designed to facilitate the transfer of land in the New Territories and to provide a simple and inexpensive procedure for settling land disputes therein.

An amendment of the Vagrancy Ordinance, No. 2 of 1905, increases the liability of shipowners and masters who bring undesirable persons into the Colony, and enables rules to be made for the more rigorous treatment of vagrants in the House of Detention.

Provision is made under the Merchant Shipping Amendment Ordinance, No. 5 of 1905, for the carrying of suitable lights by junks, and the same Ordinance extends greater facilities in respect of the navigation of steamships of small size plying between Hongkong and the neighbouring ports of the Canton Province by lightening the somewhat onerous conditions hitherto imposed.

IV. EDUCATION.

The number of Government and Grant Schools including Queen's College, is 83 of which 25 are Upper Grade Schools with a staff competent to give instruction in all the subjects of Standard VII, and 58 are Lower Grade Schools, under purely native management. Broadly speaking the Upper Grade Schools are taught in English, and the Lower Grade Schools are taught in the Vernacular.

The total number of pupils in average attendance at Government and Grant Schools was 5,353 against 4,970 in 1904. Of these, 1,797 were in Government and 3,556 in Grant Schools; 3,207 pupils received instruction in English, and 2,146 in the Vernacular. The proportion of boys to girls was 3,401 to 1,952.

The Victoria School for children of British parentage was opened at Caroline Hill, in 1904. The average attendance at this and the corresponding British School at Kowloon, taken together, was 93.

Lower Grade Anglo-Chinese Schools were opened at Tanglungchau and Aberdeen