ENG-1957 — Page 155

130

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

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

follows:

Mineral

Feldspar

Graphite

Iron Ore

Kaolin

Lead Ore

Production in Tons

Value in $

1,156.17

44,330

3,305.45

485,900

94,181.63

3,636,350

6,960.63

617,700

129.61

58,800

4,192.02

83,840

36.19

181,240

Quartz

Wolframite

The Mines Department is under the control of the Com- missioner of Labour in his capacity as Commissioner of Mines, and is under the immediate direction of a Super- intendent of Mines, who is assisted by two locally recruited Assistant Inspectors of Mines.

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The ownership and control of all minerals is vested in the Crown under the Mining Ordinance, 1954. This ordinance also provides for the issue by the Commissioner of Mines of prospecting licences for periods of six months, renewable up to a maximum of two years, and of mining licences for periods of six months, renewable up to a maximum of five years. It also provides for the Land Officer to issue mining leases for periods of up to 21 years. Details of the leases issued each quarter are, published in the Government Gazette. The Superintendent of Mines issues Authorized Buyers' Licences for the sale and purchase of ores, grants Mine Blasting Certificates, and approves Certificates of Origin and Export Licences for minerals mined in the Colony. He is also responsible for arranging for the collec- tion of rents, premia and fees in connexion with licences granted, and for the computation and collection of royalties on mineral sales at the rate of 5% of the value of minerals won. Inspection of mining areas and survey work in con- nexion with applications for, or the grant of, mining and prospecting licences is carried out by the Mines Department.