Sessional_Paper_1948 — Page 179

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GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, WATER SUPPLY, AND MINING CONTROL.

Introduction.

I arrived at Hong Kong on June 22nd, 1948, and am due to leave on June 28th. Apart from a preliminary conversation with the Colonial Secretary, I have had discussions with the Director of Public Works and his Water Engineer staff, and with the District Officer, New Territories. I have examined the files put at my disposal, and I spent two days in the New Territories seeing a little of the geological, mining and water-supply problems there. Little time has remained in which to draw up this statement, and I have accordingly been able to do little more than state my conclusions and recommendations on the matters that have been brought to my attention.

I am glad to acknowledge the assistance I have received throughout from Dr. S. G. Davis. He accompanied me on my visits to the New Territories, and his knowledge of the local geological, mining and other conditions has been of the greatest assistance to me.

Geological Survey.

While there has been no official geological survey of Hong Kong, an excellent detailed account of the geology of Hong Kong has been prepared by Professors Brock and M. Y. Williams, and staff, of the University of British Columbia during the period 1926-35. Unfortunately some of this work was lost during the war, but the present position is as follows:-

Apart from several short papers already published, the University is pre- paring a copy of the original detailed report on the geology of Hong Kong by Professor Brock and others. As part of the survey manuscript maps on the scale of 1/20,000 were prepared, but these appear to have been lost unless they can be traced in Japan. These maps were, however, used as a basis for a geological map on the scale of ap- proximately 1/84,000, which was published in colours by the British Ordinance Survey in 1935. Practically all copies of this map were lost, but one remains with the Or- dinance Survey, and it is essential for the conduct of the Geological Survey and mining operations in the Colony that this map should be reprinted. There are also topographic maps on the scales 1/20,000 and 1/80,000.

There is, therefore, little present demand for further geological mapping although it is possible that in connection with the development of mineral resources some detailed mapping should be done locally to replace the lost 1/20,000 sheets.

What is now required, however, is that the mineral deposits on the mainland, with special reference to wolfram, galena, iron, ochre, China-clay, etc., be systematical- ly described, and an attempt made to determine their extent and importance. The best way of achieving this, should it be practicable, would be to obtain the services, on secondment, of an experienced Geologist from a well-established Geological Survey, such as that of the Malayan Federation; such an officer would have the necessary geological and mining experience, and, using the available geological maps as a basis, he could carry out the required additional examination with the minimum delay. Allowing for a field season of about six months, he would need to be seconded for a period of about nine months in the first instance so as to allow time for the examina- tion of records, the assembling of staff, etc. It is probable that a second field season would be necessary to complete the survey but the full extent of the work required could only be determined after some preliminary examination had been made.

The Malayan Geological Survey is at present very short of experienced staff, and will shortly lose one experienced officer on secondment to the North Borneo Terri- tories. It is unlikely therefore that the Survey could spare an officer until after the next two years. I suggest, therefore, that in due course enquiries be made of the Malayan Government as to whether an officer could be spared during the period Sep- tember, 1950, to May, 1951. He would need to be given allowances adequate to cover any additional cost of living with which he would be faced.