ENG-1956 — Page 137

PRODUCTION

107

Figures of membership and finance of the Co-operative Societies will be found in Appendix XI.

MINING

There is mining of iron, lead, wolfram and graphite by underground methods, whilst kaolin clay, quartz and feldspar are worked by opencast methods. Iron ore and kaolin clay are exported to Japan, lead ore to the United Kingdom and Europe, and wolfram and graphite to the United Kingdom and the United States. Kaolin clay is also used locally by rubber manufacturers. Quartz and feldspar are solely pro- duced for local consumption, principally by the glass-making, enamelware and ceramic industries.

All mining leases and licences, and prospecting licences are for the New Territories, i.e. the mainland and the islands of Lantao, Chu Lu Kok, West Brother, Ma Wan and Tsing Yi.

At the Ma On Shan iron mine the transition from opencast to underground operation was almost completed by the end of the year, the ore dressing plant being partly used on processing accumulated dumps of low-grade ore.

During the year one lead mine and one wolfram mine were in process of rehabilitation, prior to resuming production, whilst prospecting continued for beryl, iron ore, lead ore, wolfram and graphite.

The Colony's production of minerals for the year was as follows:

Graphite

Iron ore

Kaolin

Lead ore

Quartz & Feldspar

Long Tons Value H.K.$

2,441.75

346,700

122,963.17

4,918,500

5,463.43

327,800

198.65

137,450

3,004.92

75,120

24.22

295,820

Wolfram ore

The Mines Department is under the control of the Com- missioner of Labour in his capacity as Commissioner of