PRIMARY PRODUCTION
83
Total pond fish production for the year was estimated at 1,600 metric tons valued at some $9.7 million, which represented about six per cent of the local consumption of pond fish. Fry of various species re-exported during the year totalled $2.8 million.
Edible oysters have been cultivated in the waters of the Colony for some 700 years. The principal area of cultivation is Deep Bay where 143.6 metric tons of oyster meat, valued at approximately $1.1 million were produced from about 6,000 acres along the New Territories' shores of the bay. Some of this was processed into dried meat or oyster juice and exported to markets overseas.
FISH MARKETING ORGANIZATION
The present Fish Marketing Organization grew out of the steps taken to rehabilitate the fishing fleet at the end of the Pacific War. Interest-free loans and grants were made and a fish-marketing scheme was introduced with the long-term object of developing the industry on a sound economic footing. From this beginning developed the present non-government trading organization con- trolled by the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries. The organiza- tion is a non-profit-making concern which finds its revenue and pays its expenses from a six per cent commission on all the sales in its wholesale markets. It operates under the Marine Fish (Marketing) Ordinance 1956, which provides among other things for a Fish Marketing Advisory Board composed of unofficials to assist the organization.
The organization runs six wholesale fish markets at Aberdeen and Shau Kei Wan on Hong Kong Island, Cheung Sha Wan in Kowloon, and Tai Po, Sha Tau Kok and Castle Peak in the New Territories. The new market of modern design at Cheung Sha Wan which was completed in 1966, was financed jointly by the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund and the Fish Marketing Organiza- tion. In the New Territories, the new market at Castle Peak was opened at the beginning of the year. Another new market at Sai Kung is planned. Five fish-collecting depots have been set up in other fishing centres and the organization provides sea and land transport from these to the wholesale markets. The depots also serve as liaison offices for the organization.