ENG-1955 — Page 105

PRODUCTION

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in the Saikung region and, for the first time, in other areas- including Castle Peak and Pat Heung. It is hoped that interest will continue to spread, and that, as the lessons of good forest management are learned, country people will be able to carry on profitable forestry with the minimum of help and advice from the Division's staff.

In January a serious fire broke out in the Shing Mun area (Jubilee Reservoir) during the drought, and rapidly spread over an area two miles long, threatening nearly 1,000 acres of young plantation. It burned from midday until the next morning, and it was only by the most persistent efforts of a large section of the forestry staff that it was brought under control and damage restricted to 135 acres. This serious loss drew attention to the dangers of fire in the increasing areas of new plantation, and plans for adequate fire control, started in 1954, were brought into effect before the end of 1955. A system of paths and fire barriers was made in each forest area; new fire look-outs were brought into use; field telephones were obtained for rapid spotting and reporting of fires; portable fire pumps were obtained from the U.S.A., and a publicity campaign appealing to the public to avoid careless fires and "Keep Hong Kong Green" was planned. In this way it is hoped to prevent serious fire losses in future. Protection against illegal woodcutting continued, but damage from this source was insignificant.

Apart from Government work in afforestation, the only large-scale forest project in the Colony is a scheme started in 1953 by the Lantao Development Company in a pre- dominantly upland area in the hinterland of Tai Pak, a small village on the east coast of Lantao. This is the Colony's first commercial venture in forestry, and its promoters are working to a ten-year programme of planting; in addition to the standard varieties, Australian hoop pine is being introduced.

ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry was founded in 1950, and now consists of four divisions : Agriculture, Animal Industries, Fisheries (marine and fresh- water) and Forestry. It has expanded rapidly since 1953, and its overall policy is to protect and develop plant and animal

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