ENG-1956 — Page 117

PRODUCTION

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Against this must be set the demands of a predominantly urban colony with a rapidly rising population and a basis of economy that is becoming increasingly industrial. Urban industry is now Hong Kong's largest employer, and indus- tries need land. Wherever possible, factories and urban extensions in country zones are concentrated on land re- claimed from the sea-as at Kun Tong and Tsuen Wan,- but towns such as Yuen Long, Tai Po and Sha Tin are all expanding, and it is unavoidable that in the process, fields in the close vicinity of towns will be lost to agriculture. The land policy of the New Territories Administration restricts the process as far as is reasonably possible, but each year's figures of agricultural acreage emphasize the struggle between the demands of town and country.

During 1956 it is estimated that the total area under culti- vation remained unchanged, but this was achieved only because the decreases in cultivated land near towns were statistically compensated for by the re-opening of neglected land on hills and in less accessible areas. It cannot be expected that this balance will be maintained indefinitely.

In view of the pressure of rapid industrial expansion on land requirements, more hillside land is being opened for agricultural purposes. Large areas are also required for settling people who have been displaced by dam-construction schemes and for those who have been assisted by various welfare organizations to take up farming. In order to have some idea of the potential agricultural value of the available land, most of which is marginal, Government is making use of the services of experts from the Colonial Pool of Soil Surveyors and an examination of the soils of the Colony is now under way.

Indispensable adjuncts to the agricultural development of neglected land are improved communications and irrigation. Here the Government has received considerable assistance from Colonial Development and Welfare Funds (see Appen- dix I), and from the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association.