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Mr. Thomson said that attempts in this country to induce fishermen to dopt mechanisation of the fishing flect had not been very successful. 1. M. Government through the Fishing Departments had made loans to British fishermen for the purpose of mechanisation but the scheme had not been an unqualified success. The engines now required for fishing boats were of the most expensive type and fishermen therefore incurred a considerable debt to the Government which it was not always possible to repay. In the days of sailing fishing vessels if a fisherman went out and caught no fish he lost only his time and his labour. Now he may be actually out of pocket for the cost of oil etc. Similarly when tho Hong Kong fisherman went to sea with his existing boat and gear and failed to catch sufficient fish, the loss entailed was small. If, however, he were furnished with an expensive engine on loan terms and his fishing efforts were not successful, he might incur a considerable loss. The moral therefore was that we should proceed cautiously with any scheme for mechanisation and let the demand come from Hong Kong rather than from the U.K.
Mr. Morley Neale agreed with Mr. Thomson,
Dr. Hickling said that in some territories (e.g. North Borneo) the labour force in the fishing industry was falling as the fishermen were finding more lucrative employment in other industries. If the noed for fish was to be met in these territories, fishing power must be increased and this could only be done by mechanising the industry. Fisherios Officers and Master Fishermen were being appointed to these Colonies with fisheries, and these officers would experiment with powered fishing boats before there was any general attempt to introduce mechanisation.
Sir Frank Stockdale doubted whether it would be wise for the money for the mechanisation of the Hong Kong fishing fleet to bo found from Colonial Development and Wolfare Funds. He doubted whether this would ensure the economical use of the Hong Kong Colonial Development and Wolfare allocation. Thoro was always a tendency to be more cautious whon money had to be found from local sources than where monies were obtained from outside, and he suggested therefore that the necessary funds should be provided by the Hong Kong Government from their own resources as this would ensure that the scheme of mechanisation would proceed more slowly in accordance with the economic position of the Colony and would be more likely to succeed than if a large sum wore provided at once.
Dr. Hickling mentioned a suggestion that assistance should be provided by the Banks.
It was explained that the Hong Kong Banks were primarily exchango banks and might not be interested in providing loans for this mechanisation scheme, It was agreed that Sir Sydney Cains should be asked for his advico on this point.
Mr. Thomson suggested that particulars of the Hong Kong Fishermen's Co-operative scheme should be circulated to other Colonies for this information,
Mr. Burt said that this was already being done.
Mr. Thomson emphasised in this connection the necessity of having someone familiar with the fish sales business to run a co-operative schema.
The Committee recorded their appreciation of the work done by Dr. Herklots and his staff, particularly Mr. Lin, in connection with the development of the Fishermen's Co-operativa.
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Mr. Russoll