PRIMARY PRODUCTION
63
the farming community, and 68 societies and four federations supported by fisherfolk. A further 253 societies and one federation formed by co-operative building societies with about 8 804 members operate in the urban area. The majority of the co-operative building societies were formed by local civil servants in receipt of financial aid from the government. Credit unions operate under a Credit Unions Ordinance, which also provides for the appointment of a registrar - the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries - with powers and duties in regard to the registration of credit unions and their by-laws, the examination of accounts, general supervision of operations, and dissolution.
There are 64 credit unions with about 15 515 members registered with the Agriculture and Fisheries Department. There were 31 credit unions comprising groups of people having a common bond of association; 26 unions of people having bonds of employment; and seven unions formed by groups each with a common bond of residence.
Land Usage
Hong Kong's land area totals 1 064 square kilometres. Of this, 9.2 per cent is used for farming, 74.8 per cent is marginal land with different degrees of sub-grade character, and built-up areas comprise the remaining 16 per cent. The need to establish new towns and expand residential areas in the New Territories has resulted in an encroachment on agricultural land. The effect of the losses in the total area of agricultural land have been offset by more intensive farming on remaining areas. The Lands Department is responsible for land administration throughout Hong Kong.
Class
Approximate area (square kilometres)
Percentage of whole
(i) Urban built-up lands
96
9.0
(ii) Rural developed lands
74
7.0
(iii) Woodlands
125
11.7
(iv) Grass and scrub lands
624
58.7
(v) Badlands
46
4.3
(vi) Swamp and mangrove lands
1
0.1
(vii) Arable
80
7.5
(viii) Fish ponds
Remarks
Main urban area of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and six new towns in the New Territories (Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Fanling/Shek Wu Hui, Tai Po and Sha Tin) including district open space (parks and gardens), but excluding all other non-built-up land.
Rural market towns and villages and other developed sites in the New Territories such as reservoirs, roads and railways. Natural and established woodlands. Natural grass and scrub, including those
within country parks.
Stripped of cover. Denuded granite country.
Capable of regeneration.
Coastal brackish swamp and mangrove.
Cultivable lands, including orchards and market gardens, under cultivation and fallow.
18
1.7
Fresh and brackish water fish farming,
excluding coastal marine fish farms.
Agricultural Industry
The government's policy is to foster the development of the agricultural industry in Hong Kong, bearing in mind priorities in land usage and the economics of food production and supply in the region. Its objective is to ensure that the proportion of Hong Kong's food supply produced locally is maintained at a reasonable level.
Common crops are vegetables, flowers, fruit and other field crops. The value of crop production has increased from $89 million in 1963 to $420 million in 1982 - a rise