- 5
(d)
Measures taken to improve living standards in rural areas include the provision of advice and material aid to rural communities to enable them, with their own labour whenever possible, to improve amenities such as construction of aqua
aqua privies, playgrounds, paths and village offices. Where the complexity of the proposed amenity project is beyond the capability of the villagers, contracts are let by the government to provide the required facilities and services. Expenditure in this area for the four years up to 31 March 1990 amounted to about HK$118,326,000.
During the same period, the government spent approximately HK$1,150,000 on maintenance of irrigation facilities for the benefit of rural communities. The Emergency Relief Fund paid out some HK$1,022,650 in grants to farming and fishing communities.
A new town development programme to build eight new towns, namely, Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun, Shatin, Tai Po, Fanling, Tseung Kwan O, Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai, and to upgrade several townships which include Sha Tau Kok, Sai Kung, Peng Chau, Cheung Chau, Mui Wo and Tai O is being implemented at a rapid pace. The principal concept of developing these new towns is to achieve a balanced and self-contained community with adequate provision of infrastructure, community and recreational facilities, and employment opportunities. By mid-1990 the new towns and rural townships will accommodate some three million people. According to the 1989 Development Programmes prepared by the Territory Development Department the estimated population as at the end of March 1990 was: Tsuen Wan 732 000, Shatin 543 000, Tuen Mun 363 000, Yuen Long 127 000, Fanling 126 000 and Tai Po 197 000. As for Tin Shui Wai, land formation is underway and construction of two public housing estates are scheduled for completion by stages from 1992 to 1993 to accommodate some 60 000 people. In Tseung Kwan 0, about 220 hectares of land have been formed and the estimated population as at the end of March 1990 was about 61 000 persons. In addition, improvement work under the Rural Planning and Improvement Strategy Programme are being carried out to improve the living condition and the general environment of rural villages.
Article 8
(a)
Government loans and other credit facilities provided by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department helped considerably to eliminate the causes of chronic indebtedness in rural areas.
Up to 30 June 1990, the government has granted loans for 138 988 projects to encourage and improve agriculture, including all forms of animal husbandry, poultry rearing, crop raising and fish farming. The loans amounted to HK$273,410,672. Of these, a sum of HK$266,713,412 have been repaid. Up to 30 June 1990, the government has also granted loans for 684 projects to encourage and improve fisheries, including all forms of mechanisation, building of new vessels, purchasing of new engines, fishing gear, navigational aids and operational expenses. The loans amounted to HK$40,264,057. Of these, HK$32,708,643 have been repaid.
The Agriculture and Fisheries Department operates two statutory marketing organisations and provides credit and other services for farmers and co-operative societies, including thrift, credit, marketing, consumers, better living and housing co-operative societies. The establishment of the Fish Marketing Organisation and the Vegetable Marketing Organisation in 1945 and 1946 respectively greatly reduced the