My Mayhe
56
6
(3)
(3) a '47 file
(2/2571/48)
Ory. on 19888/17/48
No. 116.
sir,
19888/17/48
GOVERMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG.
21st May, 1948.
I have the honour to refer to your despatch No. 107 of 10th April, 1948, forwarding a copy of Dr. Miclling's report on the isheries of Hong Kong, and in compliance with your request in the ast paragraph of the despatch to forward for your consideration my co.zaents upon the contents of the report.
2.
There is an a parent isunderstanding of the position of the Hong Kong fishing fleet with regard to mechanisation manifested by the report of a meeting of the Colonial Fisheries Advisory Committee forwarded with your despatch under reference. Mechanisation is not a thing of the future: it has already begun. Applications have been received from various business later sts for permisalon to operate from the Colony powered fisting trawlers and other fishing vessels to a number exoceding fifty. I have felt unable to refuse these applications because to do so would be in my estination a repressive if not actually a retrograde step. There is in any case no legal authority at present existing under which I could refuse such permission. It is important, therefore, in the interests of the local fisherfolk that such develop- ment should take place under control and that the operation of powered fishing vessels from llong Kong should be subject to guidance so far as this is possible, were commercial interests permitted at once to embark upon unlimited and uncontrolled mecha ised fishing, the effect upon the welfare of the fishing population might well be disastrous. These people have already, during the Japanese occupation, suffered severe privations and it has been the prime object of the fisheries organization established since the war to attend to their welfare and to improve their lot. It would be foolish to cast away the bonerits of these exertions by exposing the local fisherfolk to a threat with which they wad not have the power to compete. There is little doubt that, given the necessary inccative, many of the local fishermen will be keen to adopt mechanisat...n. Money exponded in this cause will be well spent and I feel Jure that the Colonial Fisheries Advisory Co mittce may rest assured that there will be no rec'dess use of Development and welfare funds but that money devoted to the echanization of the local fishing fleet will cal- tribute directly to the continued and Llorcased prosperity of the fisherfolk. I find it dificult to accept the view of the Condittee that this schone is one which should more properly se financed from Hong Kong Government funds than from Colo :ial Development and Welfare Funds. There are vory many calls upon the Colony's revenue, particularly in this post- war period of reconstructi and projects even as worthy as that of mechanizing the fishing fleet run the risk of deferment until funds are more copious. Certainly there is at present no prospect of a sum of the magnitude required being found from the Colony's revenue for this purpose and it is unlikely that the financial position of the Colony will improve within the next few years to such an extent that funds will become available. I therefore reinforce the recomendation made in ay despatch Jo. 244 of 23rd October, 1947, that 250,000 should be allotted from the Colonial Development and elfare Fund for the purpose of mechanizing the Hong Kong Fishing Fleet.
---
THE RIGIHONOURABLE
A. CREECH JONES, M..