PRIMARY PRODUCTION
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Territories. Under the Marine Fish Culture Ordinance, 26 fish culture zones were designated in 1983 and all marine fish culture is now required to be licensed and conducted at sites within these zones.
In 1983, live marine fish supplied by this activity amounted to 1 000 tonnes valued at $63 million.
Marketing
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Much of the wholesale marketing of primary products - particularly fresh foods is the responsibility of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, and of the Vegetable and Fish Marketing Organisations. During 1983, 45 per cent of the total quantity of locally- produced vegetables, and 70 per cent of the total landings of marine fish, were sold through the organisations.
The Vegetable Marketing Organisation operates under the Agricultural Products (Mar- keting) Ordinance, which also provides for the establishment of a Marketing Advisory Board to advise the Director of Marketing (the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries). The organisation is responsible for transporting locally-produced vegetables from the New Territories to the wholesale market in Kowloon, providing marketing facilities, and supervising sales and financial transactions in the market. Revenue is obtained from a 10 per cent commission on sales. The organisation is non-profit-making. It seeks to maximise returns to farmers by minimising marketing costs. It also provides ancillary services such as the acquisition and sale of agricultural supplies to farmers and the awarding of tertiary education scholarships to the children of farmers. During the year, 69 000 tonnes of vegetables valued at $241 million were sold through the organisation.
The Fish Marketing Organisation operates under the Marine Fish (Marketing) Ordin- ance, which also provides for the establishment of a Fish Marketing Advisory Board. The ordinance provides for the control of the landing, wholesale marketing, and the import and export of marine fish. The organisation operates seven wholesale fish markets. Revenue arises from a six per cent commission on the proceeds of sales. Surplus earnings are channelled back into the industry in the form of various services such as low interest loans to fishermen; improvements to the markets; financial support for the 14 schools for fishermen's children; and scholarships for secondary and tertiary education.
In 1983, the wholesale fish markets handled 72 000 tonnes of marine fish, crustacea and molluscs which were sold for some $510 million. This included 750 tonnes of imported marine fish sold through these markets.
Facilities in the existing wholesale markets are becoming inadequate for handling the ever-increasing quantities of imported fresh vegetables, fruit, poultry, eggs, freshwater fish and crustacea. Marketing activities have spilled on to adjacent public streets causing obstruction and traffic congestion. To improve the situation, plans are going ahead to establish new wholesale markets in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island to centralise the wholesale marketing of fresh foodstuffs. In the interim the government has introduced a number of temporary wholesale markets at Cheung Sha Wan in Kowloon for fresh water fish, poultry and imported vegetables, and at Western District on Hong Kong Island for fruit.
Mining
At the end of 1983, one mining lease and four mining licences for extraction of feldspar and kaolin were in operation. Details of the leases and licences are published twice a year in the Government Gazette.