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ABERDEEN RECLAMATION.
There
The village of Aberdeen is essentially a fishing village.
With the formation of the Fisheries Department, the development of the Fisheries Co-operative and the maintenance of a Fisheries Syndicate at the war-time fish curing station opposite the Industrial School, and the establishment there of a Vernacular School for about 400 children of the fisherfolk, a great impetus has been given to the fishing industry. were in April, 13,334 fisherfolk and 1,018 junks stationed at Aberdeen; a large number of these junks are small purse- seiners. It is unlikely that the number of fishing vessels stationed at Aberdeen will be very greatly increased, perhaps by about 200, but it is certain that larger vessels will replace many of the smaller ones how there. This will result in the number of fisherfolk increasing to 15,000 or even more.
Prior to the war, a small ad hoc committee considered the harbour facilities at Aberdeen and recommended that a pier should be constructed. Since the war the problem has been reconsidered and expert opinion is thatrather than build a large and expensive pier, an area of foreshore be reclaimed on the western side of Aberdeen, and set aside for the use of the Fisheries Department, with a small pier in the main harbour for ferry service. This would reduce congestion in the harbour as well as on the road. In the first place it is proposed to reclaim an area of approximately 46,000 square feet with a frontage of 480 feet.
The fishing junks visiting Aberdeen would unload their fish along the new frontage and apart of the reclaimed land would be utilised as a collecting and sorting ground prior to the transport of the fish by lorry to the city. Land would also be available for Syndicate headquarters, vernacular and technical schools for the fisherfolk, net drying and tanning yards, rope walks and large areas for the drying of fish. As the area was extended, provision would be made for slipway s and junk building yards.
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Recommendation No. 10
k
£50,000
After careful investigation, a second reclamation has been planned for the village of Shaukiwan, the other important fishing centre on Hong Kong island, but this recommendation has been postponed for later consideration.
MECHANIZATION OF THE FISHING FLEET
Fifty years ago the fishing fleets of Europe were wind-driven; now sailing vessels are practically unknown, all the fleets being fully mechanized. It is inevitable that mechanization of fishing fleets in the Far East will take place. China has inherited the fishing industry of Formosa with its mechanized traditions; China has also been provided with power- driven trawlers from UNRRA funds; mechanization is taking place in the Philippines, Ceylon, India and Malaya. Hong Kong is the only important fishing base in the Far East that is completely non-mechanized except for the two junks referred to above. Hong Kong must not be left behind in the modernization of its fleet.
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