72
PRIMARY PRODUCTION
need to meet the growing requirements of the rural community. It is important to remember that 77 per cent of the total area of the territory is marginal land, in differing degrees of subgrade character. The arable land and fish ponds already exploited comprise only 13 per cent of the total area and the expanding urban areas (the remaining 10 per cent) tend to encroach more directly on arable rather than on marginal land. It is unavoidable that agricultural land will be lost to urban development, or at least that agriculture in some areas will be confined to market gardening. This trend is, however, being offset by more intensive production and by develop- ment of marginal land.
There has been a continuing study of land use by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department since the completion of a survey in 1955. Much work has also been done by independent researchers. The general picture of land use today is indicated by the following table:
Approximate
Class
area
(square miles)
Percentage of whole
Remarks
(i) Built-up (Urban Areas)
40
10.0
Includes roads and railways.
(ii) Woodlands
53.3
13.4
Natural and established woodlands.
(iii) Grass and scrub lands
233.7
58.6
Natural grass and scrub.
(iv) Badlands
14.1
3.5
Stripped of cover. Granite
country. Capable of re-
generation.
(v) Swamp and mangrove
lands
5
1.3
Capable of reclamation.
(vi) Arable...
49.3
12.4
Includes orchards and market gardens.
(vii) Fish ponds
3.1
0.8
Fresh and brackish water fish farming.
POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION
The Agriculture and Fisheries Department concerns itself with optimum land utilization and provides technical, extension and advisory services to farmers. It also deals with all matters concerning the economic, social and technological developments of Hong Kong fisheries, especially those aspects which directly involve the fishermen, and the administrative organization of co-operative societies of all types. The conservation of water and soil, through afforestation of bare, eroded hillsides and catchment areas, is important. Afforestation is largely undertaken by the department