A start was made early in the year on the establishment of village depots in the New Territories under the supervision of the Vegetable Marketing Organization and operated by farmers of the region as village units to which they can bring their produce for weighing and from which they receive supplies of baskets and fertilizer. Three such depots were started in the mainland part of the New Territories and have been of assistance in improving the transport of vegetables to the wholesale market in Kowloon.
Appendix I at the end of this Report shows in tabular form financial details regarding the various approved schemes.
Relations with United Nations
The Sixth Session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East was held in Bangkok during May, and was immediately preceded by the Second Session of the Committee on Industry and Trade, at both of which conferences Hong Kong was represented by a three-man delegation.
In April the Forestry Officer attended the F.A.O. Conference on Timber Standardization and Grading at Dalat, Indo-China, and in October the same officer represented Hong Kong in the United Kingdom delegation attending the First Session of the United Nations Forestry Commission for Asia and the Pacific, which was held in Bangkok. The importance of these meetings to Hong Kong is that the Colony is the largest timber importer in the Far East.
During the year several members of the ECAFE Secretariat visited Hong Kong in connexion with the Commission's studies of coal and iron ore resources, cottage industries, handicrafts and statistics.
The new Trade Promotion section of the Department of Com- merce and Industry established a close liaison with the Trade Promotion Division of the ECAFE Secretariat and it is expected that this aspect of Hong Kong's association with the Commission will produce fruitful results.
Outstanding Statistics
The population estimate of 2,360,000 in May 1950 is the highest figure ever given for population in the history of the Colony.
The total numbers of arrivals and departures recorded on the Colony's sea, air and rail routes during 1950 were 3,311,854 arrivals and 3,523,843 departures.
The total value of Hong Kong trade was $7,503 million, a record in the Colony's trade history.
The total tonnage of vessels entered and cleared was 27,350,520 net tons, an increase of 4,310,394 net tons over 1949.
6,254,358 passengers were carried on the railway, an increase of 1,506,612 over 1949. This is the greatest number ever carried in
one year.
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