PRIMARY PRODUCTION
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within these zones under licences issued by the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries. By year-end, 1810 licences had been issued. Live marine fish supplied by this activity amounted to 3 280 tonnes valued at $222 million.
Marketing
Much of the wholesale marketing of primary products - particularly fresh foods - is the responsibility of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department and the Vegetable and Fish Marketing Organisations. This year, 47 per cent of the total quantity of locally-produced vegetables, and 65 per cent of the total landings of marine fish were sold through the organisations.
The Vegetable Marketing Organisation operates under the Agricultural Products (Marketing) 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 secondary and tertiary education scholarships to the children of farmers. During the year, 62 300 tonnes of local vegetables valued at $152 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, transport, wholesale marketing, and the import and export of marine fish. The organisation operates seven wholesale fish markets. Revenue comes 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 10 schools for fishermen's children, and scholarships for secondary and tertiary education.
In 1988, the wholesale fish markets handled 75 600 tonnes of marine fish, crustacea and molluscs which were sold for $591 million. This included 5 250 tonnes of imported marine fish sold through these markets.
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Facilities in most of the existing wholesale markets are 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, traffic congestion and hygiene problems. To improve the situation, plans are progressing well in establishing new wholesale market complexes 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 freshwater fish, poultry and imported vegetables, and at Western District on Hong Kong Island for fruit and poultry.
Mining
The Mines Division of the Labour Department enforces legislation and safety regulations relating to mining, quarrying and explosives. It processes mining and prospecting applica- tions, inspects mining and prospecting areas, stone quarries, blasting sites and explosives