0003160 G.F. 316
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5,500 tons is landed by the local fishing fleet. Of the 900 tons imported each month over 90% comes from China, Although it must be assumed that an officially declared Chinese ban on food imports is bound to have some effect on our local fishermen, the application of Chinese fishery policy over
he last 8-9 years had tended to reserve the waters within the 20 fathom line (which is well beyond the 12 mile-limit) to their own in shore fishermen and as breeding grounds. The net result has been that during 1966, 72% of locally landed fish came from vessels which normally operated beyond the 20 fathom line, and only 28% came from vessels which normally fished Chinese inshore and Colony waters. It is estimated that about 5% of landings came from within Colony waters.
15.
The average local monthly landing of 5,500 tons does not represent total production of the Hong Kong based fleet: at least a further 20% of this figure is landed in China under their licensing quota system. Apart from the right to fish within the more distant Chinese waters, (e.g. from St. John Island to Taya Island off Hainan) and the need to placate the Chinese authorities our local fishermen are induced to land fish in China because they get relatively high prices for their low quality catch not otherwise saleable in Hong Kong and, in addition, they can also buy cheap rice and other commodities. In special circumstances it may be possible to induce local fishermen to bring back their full catches to Hong Kong.
16.
Extreme measures which China might take against local fishermen could include the following :
(a)
all Chinese licensed boats being told to return to or otherwise land all their catches in China; and
(b)
indiscriminate arrests of all Hong Kong vessels on the high seas.
These measures were attempted by China in the autumn of 1958. Notwithstand- ing the fact that at that time 60% to 65% of the local catch came from or near Chinese waters (3 mile-limit) the actual drop in fish landings then was less than 20%. Although it must be accepted that the pressures which would accompany a food embargo would be greater than those exerted in 1958, there is reason to hope that local fishermen would react in the same way. The net available fresh marine fish supplies would be in the range 4, 000 5,000 tons
a month.
17.
Alternative supplies should be available by attracting Japanese, Korean and Taiwan boats to off-load their catches here. That no attempt is now made by these vessels to exploit the Hong Kong market is due to the relatively low level of local fish prices. These alternative supplies are therefore unlikely to be attracted to Hong Kong unless there is a substantial increase in local prices. Any such general increase in price levels will also give local fishermen a much greater incentive to take risks in order to continue fishing and to sell their catch locally.
Pond Fish.
18.
Local supplies of pond fish have increased but 95% of the average monthly consumption of 2,230 tons still comes from China and there are no practical alternative sources.
Dried and Salted Fish.
19.
Some 85% of the salt fish imported comes from China. The average monthly consumption is some 476 tons of which 200 tons are produced locally.
Stocks are mainly he
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nd the quantity is not known.
/20.