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PRIMARY PRODUCTION
There are some 500 pond fish farms, varying in size and number of ponds. Most are owner-operated and routine operations also are assisted by family labour. The main species raised is grey mullet, but also important are common carp, silver carp, big-head, grass carp, mud carp and edible goldfish. Total pond fish yield for 1977 was 4,176 tonnes valued at $41 million, which met 12 per cent of local demand. Fish fry for pond stocking are mainly imported from China and Taiwan. Grey mullet fry are caught locally.
The culture of marine fish continues to develop. It involves growing the fish from fry or fingerling stages to marketable size in cages suspended from rafts in numerous sheltered bays throughout the New Territories. A survey carried out in October, 1976, showed that a total of 983 families were engaged in this business. The area of surface water covered by rafts was estimated at 7.5 hectares. In addition, there were some 16 hectares of fish farms under impoundments. The total quantity of live marine culture fish marketed in 1977 was estimated at 563 tonnes valued at $20 million.
Legislation is being considered to license and protect marine fish culturists in des- ignated areas. A new section of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department was established in June, 1976, to carry out the initial implementation of the legislation.
Marketing
Much of the wholesale marketing of primary products – particularly fresh foods – is a responsibility of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, and of the fish and vegetable marketing organisations administered by that department. Retail fresh food marketing is a matter for the Urban Council and for the Urban Services Department. The local agriculture and fishing industries are served by the vegetable and fish marketing organisations. During the year, 31 per cent of the total quantity of locally- produced vegetables and 80 per cent of the total landings of marine fish were wholesaled through these two organisations.
The Vegetable Marketing Organisation operates under the Agricultural Products (Marketing) Ordinance, which provides for a board to advise the Director of Market- ing (the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries). Its main concerns are transporting locally-produced vegetables from the New Territories to the wholesale market in Kowloon, providing marketing facilities, and supervising sales and financial trans- actions in the market. Revenue is obtained from a 10 per cent commission on sales. The organisation is non-profit-making and seeks to obtain maximum returns for growers by minimising marketing costs. During the year, 71,800 tonnes of vegetables valued at nearly $104 million were sold through the organisation.
The Fish Marketing Organisation operates under the Marine Fish (Marketing) Ordinance, which also provides for an advisory board. The ordinance provides for the control of the landing, wholesale marketing, import and export of marine fish. The Fish Marketing Organisation operates seven wholesale fish markets strategically sited to provide convenient services to the public, the trade and the industry. Revenue is obtained from a six per cent commission on the proceeds of sales; 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 im- provements, and support for the 13 schools managed for the benefit of fishermen's children. In 1977, the wholesale fish markets handled 89,500 tonnes, which were sold