50
PRIMARY PRODUCTION
the industry. Revenue is obtained from a six per cent commission on proceeds of sales of fish, and surplus earnings are ploughed back into the industry in the form of various services. These include low-interest rate loans to fishermen for productive purposes, market and marketing improvements, and support for the 13 schools managed for the benefit of fishermen's children. In 1975 the wholesale fish markets handled 88 990 metric tons which were sold for some $232 million. This included 925 metric tons of imported marine fish sold through these markets.
Facilities are inadequate in the existing wholesale markets for handling the ever increasing quantities of imported fresh vegetables, fruit, poultry, freshwater fish and crustacea. There is widespread obstruction, traffic congestion and low marketing efficiency at high costs. With the obvious need for improvement in these markets, comprehensive surveys have been conducted to obtain the data necessary for the long-term planning and establishment of new markets in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island. They will be under the direct aegis of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department.
Because of the need for early action, it has proved necessary for the government to construct a number of temporary wholesale markets for use until permanent markets are built. Two are located at Hing Wah Street in the Cheung Sha Wan district, adjacent to the site for the permanent market project in Kowloon.
Mining
Iron ore is mined from one underground mine in the New Territories and the concentrate (magnetite) is exported to Japan. Kaolin, feldspar and quartz are taken by opencast methods. Most kaolin is exported to Japan and most feldspar to Taiwan. All quartz, some feldspar and about 62 per cent of kaolin are consumed by local light industries.
Under the Mining Ordinance, the ownership and control of minerals is vested in the Crown. The Land Officer is empowered to grant mining leases and the Commis- sioner of Mines to grant mining and prospecting licences. Details of leases and licences in operation are published twice a year in the Government Gazette. At the end of the year, there were three mining leases, seven mining licences, and three prospecting licences valid for different areas.
The Mines Department deals with applications for prospecting and mining licences, the issue of mine blasting certificates, and delivery of explosives from govern- ment depots to blasting sites. It is responsible for inspecting mining and prospecting areas, stone quarries, blasting sites and explosives stores, to enforce mining and explo- sives legislation and safety regulations. It is also responsible for the control and management of government depots which provide bulk storage facilities for all explosives imported into Hong Kong.
In September 1975, Headquarters British Forces agreed to make available certain facilities in their ammunition storage depot on Stonecutters Island to accommodate the bulk storage of explosives which could not be kept at the government's Green Island depot. This will substantially relieve the storage burden at the government depot.