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PRIMARY PRODUCTION
these lost woodlands, not only so as to safeguard water catchments and ensure soil conservation, but also to take advantage of the opportunities it gives to make best use of the land. There are many limiting factors to the extension of arable land, but they can be overcome in some areas and much more attention is now paid to the principles of multiple land use in order to exploit under- developed areas. The establishment of pure forests tends to be restricted to areas incapable of more intensive development.
The compilation of information and data for the further exploi- tation of available land resources is a continuing process. The divisions of the Agriculture and Forestry Department primarily concerned have the changing pattern of land use constantly under review and undertake investigational and advisory work for the benefit of farmers. During the past three years the expert advice available from the Department has been reinforced by the services of an officer from the Soil Survey Pool attached to the Colonial Office. This officer's report on the soils of Hong Kong is now in the press and will be a valuable addition to the information avail- able on how to improve land utilization.
PRIMARY PRODUCTION: POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION
The policy of Government is to stimulate production of food in so far as this is compatible with the best utilization of the resources of land and sea. To achieve this, three departments of Government are concerned with serving the farmers and fishermen. These are the Agriculture and Forestry Department, which chiefly concerns itself with optimum land utilization and gives technical, extension and advisory services to the farmers; the Co-operative Development and Fisheries Department, which deals mainly with the fishermen on the waters of the territory and the administrative organization of co-operative societies of all types; and the New Territories Administration.
Within this framework the Agriculture and Forestry Department aims to increase the production and improve the economic status of individual farmers; it assists in stabilizing the farming industry by encouragement of diversified production which may mitigate the effects of seasonal market 'gluts' and trade recessions. Whilst encouraging greater production by the use of improved scientific