Fish Marketing Organisation
At the end of the War, the fishing industry was in a very critical condition and a great deal of rebuilding had to be done. Before the War the fishermen were very much. in the hands of "laans" which were organised as groups of wholesale dealers who handled the fishermen's catches and practically controlled the market and market price. After- the War a good opportunity arose to break the control of fish laans and to give the fishermen greater freedom and a larger proportion of the money realised for the sale of their fish. A marketing scheme was therefore devised which placed the sale of marine fish under control. All fish brought into the Colony has now to be sold at one of the three recognised wholesale markets. The main market is at Kennedy Town on the Island and there is a subsidiary market at Tai Po to serve the New Territories. A small market has also been established at Aberdeen where fish for sauce manufacture is handled, and plans are in hand to open a market in Kowloon. Fishermen deliver their fish to collecting depots situated in the various fishing villages and it is thence delivered to the wholesale markets. All fish sent to the markets is sold by auction and from the sum realized, which goes to the fishermen, a deduction of 6% of the sale price is made by the Marketing Organisation. From the fund thus created the scheme is financed. The Organisation also provides facilities for the borrowing of money by fishermen at a reasonable rate of interest. Most of the loans are short term loans for the repair and purchase of gear and boats, but a certain number of large loans for the mechanisation of junks have been given.
At the collecting depots fish hooks, tung oil, lamp mantles and other fishing gear may be purchased at whole- sale prices. The depots also act as distributors of rationed rice to fishermen and provide centres where the various problems confronting the fishing community may be discussed. The Organisation also subsidises certain schools which have been established for the education of the fishermen's children. When the fishermen have mastered the principles upon which the organisation is operated and are capable of running it themselves it is planned to convert it into a Co-operative Organisation.
AGRICULTURE
The Colony's countryside consists mainly of mountains. and hills, the more gradual slopes being covered with grass, ferns and sparse pinewood, the rocky ravines with evergreen trees and dense thorny scrub. Very little of the 391 square miles is suitable for cultivation and practically all that is
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