Sessional_Paper_1935 — Page 112

Appendix "D".

108

14. By courtesy of the Manager of the Kowloon-Canton Railway we are able to attach a map (Appendix "D") showing existing and projected roads in Southern Kwangtung. It will be seen that the building of a bridge at Shum Chun will imme- diately link the Colony with Waichow and the Wai Yeung District generally, while it is obvious that direct road communication between Canton, Shum Chun and the Tungku and San On districts is merely a question of time.

15. We on our side should be fully prepared to take advantage of the facilities which are being placed at our door and should make every effort to secure a road connection between this Colony and China, which cannot but be to the mutual ad- vantage of both countries.

16. There was one further suggestion which we felt should receive early con- sideration. It is universally admitted that in these days one of the most efficacious methods of securing publicity is by means of wireless and we were of the opinion that the range of Hong Kong broadcasting should be extended by the purchase of a short wave transmitter which would be heard at entertainment value from India to Japan.

17. At our request several alternative schemes were put forward by the Chief Electrical Engineer of the Public Works Department and we eventually decided to recommend the adoption of one involving the purchase of a short wave transmitter specially designed for this type of broadcasting.

18. We understand that this recommendation has received provisional approval and we trust that when the apparatus has been installed full advantage will be taken of the possibilities of advertising this Colony throughout the East.

Chapter XIV.

PIGS AND POULTRY.

1. Shortly before this Commission came into being, a Committee was appointed by His Excellency the Governor to consider and advise as to what practical steps can be taken to improve and extend the breeding of pigs and poultry in the New Territories.

2. That Committee has since issued its report, and we have no hesitation in supporting its recommendations. In doing so we wish to emphasise the economic importance to the Colony of endeavouring to increase as much as possible its own production of foodstuffs.

3. The Colony has always imported the major portion of the foodstuffs con- sumed by its population. It pays for these imports chiefly out of its earnings from trading activities and when, as at present, the volume of trade passing through the Colony has shrunk it becomes necessary by way of compensation, to increase its own productivity, thereby retaining its money and affording increased employment within the Colony. While obviously this argument is applicable to any article cap- able of economic production within the Colony it is particularly applicable to pigs, poultry and eggs, of which very large quantities are imported for consumption.

4. Our local production of pigs, though quite considerable and amounting in value to about $1,500,000 annually, is only one seventh of the quantity imported, and, as pointed out in the Committee's Report, given the requisite guidance and encouragement an important improvement upon the existing state of affairs can be anticipated with every confidence."