ENG-1954 — Page 76

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1954

be accomplished gradually by providing communica- tions and improving irrigation, particularly in the area off Shataukok and Sai Kung and on the island of Lantao. With improved irrigation it is thought that an area of approximately 5,000 acres could be made to produce heavier crops and the problems of water supply for farming are therefore being carefully investi- gated. Considerable improvement in irrigation has already been made with welcome assistance from Colonial Development and Welfare funds.

The planting of forests in the higher country and on land unsuitable for agriculture or tree cropping is of considerable importance to agriculture in Hong Kong. By restricting run-off, valuable water is held back and slowly passes down under control through water channels and irrigation ditches to the crops. The trees are a long-term permanent crop and farmers and villagers in many localities, by combining forestry with agriculture, improve their peasant farming economy.

The latest figures for the land area used for crop- ping are as follows:-

Paddy Vegetables Orchards

Miscel- Cultivation laneous Abandoned

Total

Acres

24,576

2,111

1,068

3,006

2,008

32,769

Agriculture

Farms & Farming. Most of the arable land is planted with rice on small holdings which average about 2 acres. There are very few tenant farmers who cultivate land in excess of 3 acres and the few owner- operated farms rarely exceed 5 acres.

The great

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