particularly from near neighbours
such as China).
Only 98
for agriculture, and that
of the land is currently available
figure can be expected to fall. The land is mainly used to satisfy consumers' preference for fresh produce, mainly
intensively-produced vegetables, fruit, pigs and poultry.
Flowers are also grown on a commercial basis.
the
4. The policy of the Kong Kong Government is to improve
the stability of production and the efficiency of marketing
in the agricultural industry by better management of
land available and by the better use of modern technology.
Pollution from poultry and pig farms is one of the colony's
most difficult and growing problems: a viable solution still being sought.
is
5. The marine fish catch is an important primary product,
accounting for about 90% of total local consumption. But
the whole industry fishing, processing and marketing
needs to be modernised.
-
6.
can
is,
In
are
China, with its advantages of proximity and cheap labour, is exceptionally well placed to supply many of Hong Kong's food needs. Moreoever, Hong Kong companies
utilise cheap labour in the south of China. There
however, a significant number of British expatriates in Hong
Kong among the total population of 5.8 million. addition, the tastes of the Chinese people in Hong Kong
changing. They are now eating many more processed Western
foods. There is, therefore, a substantial and growing market for the type of food that UK companies produce. The main suppliers of Western-style foods at the moment are
Australia and the US, although France and Netherlands
also significant suppliers of dairy produce.
1.
are
Kong
Because of high freight costs, UK exports to Hong
have typically been products of high value in relation to bulk and weight. Nevertheless, there are opportunities
for
increased UK involvement in Hong Kong, through direct exports of food and drink, and through a stake in the local
industry (where low levels of taxation
The following sectors
opportunities:
in
particular
are an advantage).
seemed to offer