PRIMARY PRODUCTION
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meet the growing demand for loans for the construction of steel-hulled fishing vessels, the loan capital of the Fisheries Development Loan Fund has been increased from $7 million to $100 million. In 1998, seven loans totalling $14.9 million were issued to fishermen under the Fisheries Development Loan Fund.
Marketing
Much fresh food is sold in wholesale markets managed by the 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 is 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 for agricultural products, and at Cheung Sha Wan for poultry. Plans are under way for the development of Phase II of the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market. On completion, it will reprovision the dilapidated Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market and the temporary poultry market at Cheung Sha Wan, and at the same time to reprovision the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market Phase I to optimise land utilisation.
During the year, the government wholesale markets handled 297 840 tonnes of vegetables, 62 570 tonnes of poultry, 43 600 tonnes of freshwater fish and fisheries. products, 152 710 tonnes of fruit and 62 640 tonnes of fresh and preserved eggs. The total value amounted to $5.7 billion.
The Vegetable Marketing Organisation is established under the Agricultural Products (Marketing) Ordinance as a non-government body providing wholesale marketing facilities for vegetable farmers. It operates a vegetable wholesale market at Cheung Sha Wan on a non-profit-making basis. It charges commission on the vegetables sold and in return provides trading facilities, transport, accounting, and pesticides residue testing services to farmers and traders. Any surplus is ploughed back into the development of farming industries and the provision of scholarships for farmers' children. During the year, the organisation handled 254 300 tonnes of vegetables valued at $875 million.
The Fish Marketing Organisation is a statutory corporation established under the Marine Fish (Marketing) Ordinance. It provides orderly marketing services at its seven wholesale markets. Revenue comes from a commission on the proceeds of sales. Surplus earnings are channelled back into the industry through the provision of low- interest loans to fishermen, improved services and facilities in the markets and scholarships for fishermen's children. In 1998, 47 661 tonnes of marine fish valued at $424 million were sold through the organisation.
Mining and Quarrying
The Mines and Quarries Division 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, explosives stores, and theatrical performance and film production using pyrotechnics.