hk1 0
acceptable standards of quality and hygiene. Vocational and technical training is provided for those directly and indirectly engaged in the industries.
25. Due to the demands of an ever-increasing population, Hong Kong continues to lose agricultural land to urban development. This tends to decrease agricultural production but is compensated to some degree by the adoption of more intensive farming practices, and the implementation of an agricultural land rehabilitation scheme to return fallow land to
production.
26.
In implementing the programme in respect of the fishing industry, the Government undertakes exploratory fishing, applied and adaptive research as necessary, introduces and designs new craft gear and equipment, gives technical, managerial and financial advice, and assumes specific development responsibilities. The industry is encouraged to modernise and otherwise improve on traditional designs and techniques. Notable success has been achieved in a relatively brief period. Producer associations are strongly encouraged, and the orderly marketing of local fishery products is actively promoted and regulated. Vocational and technical training is provided for the industry, e.g. navigation and engineering courses for fishermen, and marketing and management courses for those in ancillary sectors.
27. To implement the programmes in respect of the wholesale marketing of food products, the Government provides, administers and manages wholesale markets for fresh primary food products. Apart from the provision of temporary wholesale markets as a quick and interim means of addressing the pressing need to replace old and congested wholesale markets, the Government plans to build and manage two modern integrated wholesale market complexes for imported vegetables, fruit, eggs, freshwater fish and poultry. Phase I of the first wholesale market complex was completed in August 1991 and the second complex is scheduled to start operations by August 1993.
28. As a result of continuing growth in the economy and the measures adopted, the nutritional status of the population of Hong Kong has risen over the years as indicated in the FAO statistics, viz:
Daily Per Capita Consumption
Period
Calories
Protein
(No./day)
(gm/day)
Fat (gm/day)
1987-89
1979-81 1972-74
2 845
86.
8
111.1
2 771
81.8
114.3
2 642
78.6
92.6