102
HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT
however, continued to explore other outlets as a result, exports of locally caught and processed salt/dried fish rose by approx. 8%. The main importing countries in 1956 were Indonesia, Singapore, Canada and the United States.
A
The Fish Marketing Organization's revolving loan fund, established in September 1946, continued to provide credit for local fishermen. At the end of the year a total of 3,077 loans had been made, amounting to $3,307,659 of this sum, $2,775,196 has been repaid.
Education plays an important part in the welfare pro- gramme of the Organization, and nearly 1,750 fishermen's children are now receiving an elementary education in the schools operated or financed by the Organization.
Vegetable Marketing Organization. Following the success of the Fish Marketing Organization, Government decided to introduce a similar system for the wholesaling of locally produced vegetables, in which the problems were not dis- similar. The scheme, which was first established in September 1946, now operates under the Agricultural Products (Market- ing) Ordinance, 1952, which provides for the appointment of a Director of Marketing who is made a corporation sole with power to acquire and dispose of property, and for the appointment of a Marketing Advisory Board, consisting of the Director as Chairman and four other persons, nominated by the Governor, who have wide and practical experience of the difficulties and needs of farmers.
The Organization undertakes two main functions. First, it collects vegetables from depots and posts conveniently located throughout the New Territories, and transports them to the wholesale vegetable market in Yaumati. Second, it arranges the sale of this produce and manages all the at- tendant financial transactions.
In these respects the Organization is very similar to its Fish Marketing counterpart. Important differences, however, lie in the methods of sale, which in the case of the Vegetable