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PRIMARY PRODUCTION
considered; those expected to prove both viable and in the interests of Hong Kong are actively encouraged.
Consumer demand and local primary production, within the context of world food production and supply, are investigated so that development planning can be under- taken. All available statistical data on production factors and food supplies, including imports, are collected and analysed to help formulate local production and marketing policies. Business efficiency of differing sectors and units within primary industries is studied to establish and update productivity standards, and to facilitate advice on their improvement. Forward projection studies of the market demand for foods are prepared. The projections are then related to local primary production capacity, both actual and potential. New food supply sources also are examined. Detailed surveys and studies are carried out on distribution systems and on the dynamics of the whole- sale marketing of foodstuffs so that long-term development decisions can be planned. The department encourages optimum land usage by providing technical, develop- ment and advisory services to farmers. It manages large areas of open countryside and is responsible for soil and water conservation, woodland management and landscape repair, as well as fire-fighting and the development of recreational services in country parks. The department also deals with the economic, social and technological develop- ment of Hong Kong's fishing and agricultural industries. It handles the administrative organisation and supervision of co-operative societies of all types and supervises credit unions.
Research programmes of the department extend to, and include, crop and animal husbandry as well as fisheries. On government farms experiments are conducted to improve the quality and yield for each hectare of vegetables, flowers and fruit. The department advises livestock farmers on modern methods of animal production, helps them in the supply of improved and exotic breeds of pigs and poultry, and provides an artificial insemination service for pigs.
Fisheries research is primarily concerned with direct and indirect problems related to the need for information in the attainment of development_objectives. These broadly include, marine resources, aquaculture, hydrography and marine pollution problems. In marine resource research, emphasis is on recommending new fish stocks for commercial exploitation and monitoring the performance of existing capture fisheries and, therefore, known fish stocks.
Aquaculture is concerned with culture system development aimed at increasing the average yield rate over a given area and time. Hydrographic investigations are de- signed to support the need for environmental information in an assortment of bio- logical programmes. Marine pollution research covers a wide scope of problems primarily aimed at identifying the level of pollution and the principal indicators of various forms of pollution; it also serves an advisory function in many ways.
Development
Due primarily to a shortage of rural labour and its rising cost, the main development in the agricultural industry has centred around the promotion of labour-saving devices. It is encouraging to note that farmers show an increasing interest and con- fidence in the use of pre-emergence herbicides for weed control in market garden crops, and there is greater use of small farm machines and sprinkler irrigation. At the