PRIMARY PRODUCTION
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Everywhere Loan Fund. By December 31, loans issued since the inception of the four funds totalled $306 million.
Marketing
Much of the wholesale marketing of fresh foods is conducted in wholesale markets run by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, the Vegetable Marketing Organisation and the Fish Marketing Organisation. The Western Wholesale Food Market and the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market Phase I are the two biggest market complexes developed and managed by the department. Each market complex is in fact an integration of several markets. The Western Complex, for example, accommodates markets for freshwater fish, vegetables, fruit, poultry and eggs. This allows buyers to purchase a variety of fresh foods under one roof.
Apart from these market complexes, the department also operates temporary wholesale markets at North District in the New Territories for agricultural products, and at Cheung Sha Wan in Kowloon for poultry. Plans are under way for the development of Phase II of the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market. On completion, scheduled for 2000, it will reprovision the dilapidated Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market and the temporary poultry market at Cheung Sha Wan.
During the year, the government wholesale markets handled 284 680 tonnes of vegetables, 76 500 tonnes of poultry, 43 670 tonnes of freshwater fish and fisheries. products, 189 800 tonnes of fruit and 63 830 tonnes of fresh and preserved eggs. The total value amounted to $6.17 billion.
The Vegetable Marketing Organisation is a financially autonomous and non-profit- making body operated under the Agricultural Products (Marketing) Ordinance, which also provides for the establishment of a Marketing Advisory Board to advise the Director of Marketing (currently the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries). Its primary function is to provide wholesale marketing facilities to local vegetable farmers and wholesalers. Revenue comes from a commission on the proceeds of sales, and surpluses are ploughed back into the development of marketing services and the farming industries, and scholarships for farmers' children. During the year, 242 500 tonnes of vegetables valued at $926 million were sold through the organisation at its market at Cheung Sha Wan.
The Fish Marketing Organisation operates under the Marine Fish (Marketing) Ordinance which also provides for the establishment of a Fish Marketing Advisory Board. The organisation operates seven wholesale fish markets. Revenue comes from a commission on the proceeds of sales. Surplus earnings are channelled back into the industry in the form of services such as low-interest loans to fishermen, improvements to the markets and financial support for schools and scholarships for fishermen's children. In 1996, 50 148 tonnes of marine fish valued at $496 million were sold through the organisation.
Mining and Quarrying
The Mines and Quarries Division of the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering Department enforces legislation relating to mining, quarrying and explosives, and administers quarrying contracts. It processes mining and prospecting applications and inspects mining and prospecting areas, stone quarries, blasting sites and explosives stores.
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