66
PRIMARY PRODUCTION
Co-operative societies operate under a Co-operative Societies Ordinance, which provides for the appointment of a registrar - the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries. His powers and duties relate to the registration of co-operative societies and their by-laws, the auditing of accounts, inspection and inquiry, general supervision of operations, and such matters as mediation in disputes and dissolution of the co-operative societies when necessary. At the end of the year, some 11 730 farmers and more than 1900 fishermen were members of co-operative societies. There were 77 societies and two federations among the farming community, and 68 societies and four federations supported by fisherfolk. A further 252 societies and one federation formed by co-operative building societies with about 8 640 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 17 390 members registered with the Agriculture and Fisheries Department. There were 32 credit unions comprising groups of people having a common bond of association; 25 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 1066 square kilometres. Of this, 9.1 per cent is used for farming, 74.7 per cent is marginal land with different degrees of sub-grade character, and built-up areas comprise the remaining 16.2 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, however, has been offset by more intensive farming on remaining areas. The Lands Department is responsible for land administration throughout Hong Kong.
יו
Class
11
Approximate area (square kilometres)
Percentage of whole
Remarks
(i) Urban built-up lands
98
9.2
(ii) Rural developed lands
74
7.0
(iii) Woodlands
125
11.7
(iv) Grass and scrub lands
625
58.6
Main urban area of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and six new towns in the New Territories (Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Fanling, Tai Po and Sha Tin) includ- ing 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.
(v) Badlands
46
4.3
Stripped of cover. Denuded granite country.
Capable of regeneration.
(vi) Swamp and mangrove lands
1
0.1
(vii) Arable
77
7.2
(viii) Fish ponds
20
1.9
Coastal brackish swamp and mangrove.
Cultivable lands, including orchards and market gardens, under cultivation and fallow.
Fresh and brackish water fish farming,
excluding coastal marine fish farms.