5.
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Reclamation of
Abendan
Diesel eng j fishing junto
Pond Fisheries
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at a total cost of £10,000, which should be borne from Colonial Development Funds. This capital expenditure will not involve the Government in any additional recurrent expenditure; such periodical maintenance as will be required falling to the Fisheries Co-operative for payment.
14.
Recommendation No. 10.
This project is a reclamation designed to increase the efficiency of the Fisheries Co-operative, and to provide it with more accommodation for its widespread activities. The use to which the ground so reclaimed would be put is amply described in the Chairman's report. Not only will the actual landing and sorting of fish in this main fishing town be facilitated but also room will be created for new headquarters offices for the co-operatives as well as for schools for the fishermen's children, to which great importance is attached.
The maintenance of the buildings and the activities for which they are constructed will also be financed by the Co-operative; so that no other commitment by Government is involved in this not inconsiderable reclamation.
15.
Recommendation No. 11.
The partial mechanization of the fishing fleet is regarded as a matter of some importance. The proposal submitted by the Committee, with which I readily agree, is that a grant of £50,000 should be made to the Fisheries Department for the purchase of diesel engines to be fitted in junks. No difficulty is foreseen in the actual operation of the scheme, which will be undertaken by the Fisheries Co-operative. The junks in which the engines are fitted will not be the property of individuals but will be owned and operated by and on behalf of the Co-operative. After the initial equipping of the fleet in this manner the cost of all maintenance, repair and replacement of engines will be borne by the Co-operative. the Chairman points out, mechanization of the fishing fleet will open the way for new fish-curing and fish-canning undertakings, and will add to the prosperity of the fishing industry as a whole.
16.
Recommendation No. 12.
As
Provision of £1,000 is made for the remuneration of an expert whom it is proposed to invite from Java, to advise on the construction of salt-water fishponds. Several thousand s of acres suitable for the purpose are available in the Un Long district of the New Territories. The actual work of construction is not at present being considered in connection with the Colonial Development Scheme. Should the expert report favourably on the terrain it is hoped that the construction of the ponds could be undertaken as part of the normal work of the Fisheries Department in the first instance and at a later stage be run on a co-operative basis.
17.
I am addressing you separately on the subject of a grant from the Central Research Fund available under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act in connection with the construction of a Fisheries Research Station at a cost of £130,000. This proposal had received the approval in 1938 of the Colonial Development Advisory Committee and its
implementation