Exportation of Hong Kong granite to the pacific rim in the 19th and 20th century
Department: Real Estate and Construction
Active Dates: 2022
Principal Investigators: Ir Dr. S.W. Poon & Dr. Katherine Y. Deng
Funding agency: The Lord Wilson Heritage Trust
Quarrying in Hong Kong 香港採石業
Quarries have been in existence long before the British’s arrival, mainly because quality granite was so abundant in Hong Kong. In 1844, the quarrying industry was taxed not just as a source of revenue, though minimal, but more importantly as an assertion of sovereignty. Quarries were then leased through tendering or public auction on an annual basis first on the Hong Kong Island, followed by all quarries in Kowloon Peninsula after 1860.
In 1902 the quarry leases were split further into small groups rather than geographic area, and were extended to two years or more. Initially granite blocks were used as a principal material in building and infrastructure construction. In the 20th Century the use of granite changed due to a great demand of aggregates in concrete production. Granite was not just used in Hong Kong construction, but also exported to many places of the world.
香港採石業發展史
19至20世紀香港出口優質花崗岩石紀實在英國人管理香港之前，採石業已經存在，原因是香港蘊藏大量優質花崗岩石。1844年，採石需要交税，主因不是税收高昂，乃是要顯示主權。
開採花崗岩石牌照由港島開始，1860年後擴展至九龍半島，及後至新界。1902年牌照用於少數石塘，期限亦延長至2年或更長。
初期花崗岩石塊用於房屋或基建，20世紀開始用於混凝土制作。花崗岩石不單用於本土建設，更有大量出口到世界各地。本文綜覽19至20世紀香港出口優質花崗岩石紀實。