ENG-1953 — Page 87

PRODUCTION

The plantations, however, belong to the villagers who are responsible for their protection and maintenance. This scheme of assistance is to be extended in future years and it is hoped that it will lead to the establishment of well managed village plantations throughout the New Territories. During 1953, a number of model plantations were started in convenient centres for demonstration purposes and afforestation of the village lots was continued.

Protection of the plantations and forest areas from damage by fire and illegal wood cutting is a considerable problem. Forest guards are stationed throughout Hong Kong and the New Territories to patrol the hillsides and to prevent illegal woodcutting. It is almost impossible to prevent the outbreak of fires, but an attempt has been made to prevent the risk of fires in plantations by the construction of firebarriers. In addition, look-out posts have been established from which fires can easily be spotted, so that they can be extinguished with the least possible delay. The prevalence of illegal woodcutting is closely linked to the demand for fuel and illegal cutting is usually at its worst in the winter months when the price of fuel is high. During the year, there was a marked improve- ment in the situation as supplies of imported fuel were abundant and the price remained low. As regards fire, it was an excep- tional year, as a number of wet periods in November and December, which are usually the driest months, greatly reduced the fire risk and few serious fires occurred.

Fisheries

Fisheries technical and administrative services are organized as a separate division of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Salt water fish is the main primary product of Hong Kong and the Colony's fishing fleet is probably the largest of any in the Colonial Empire. It is estimated that nearly 6,000 fishing

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