PRIMARY PRODUCTION
The Fish Marketing Organisation operates under the Marine Fish (Marketing) Ordinance which also provides for the establishment of a Fish Marketing Advisory Board. It 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 1997, 47 800 tonnes of marine fish valued at $464 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.
Hong Kong used 25 million tonnes of aggregates and other rock products in 1997. About 74 per cent of Hong Kong's demand for aggregates and rock products was met locally, with the balance imported from the Mainland.
One quarrying contract and three quarry rehabilitation contracts were under way in 1997. The rehabilitation contracts require the operators to rehabilitate the quarries within a defined period, in return for the granting of rights to process and sell surplus rock excavated during the course of the works. The rehabilitation works involve recontouring and extensive planting to blend with the surrounding hillsides.
Over the past year, the division continued to manage two government explosives depots - one on Stonecutters Island and one in Piper's Hill, Sha Tin - which provided bulk storage facilities for imported explosives. In June, the Stonecutters Island depot was replaced by a new government explosives depot in Kau Shat Wan on Lantau Island. The division also undertakes the delivery of explosives from the depots to blasting sites and issues shot-firer certificates.
The largest use of explosives during the year was for site formation and quarrying works. The overall consumption of explosives was 4 284 tonnes.
The division is responsible for issuing storage licenses and removal permits and provides technical support to the Broadcasting, Culture and Sport Bureau in assessing applications for the use of pyrotechnics. In 1997, there were 42 applications for the use of pyrotechnics in the production of television programmes and theatrical performances, and one application for the use of devices containing explosives in film production.
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