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Wednesday, March 29, 1972
The Financial Secretary assured the Unofficial Members that
the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries was only too conscious of the
need to provide training and engaged in research to increase the productivity
of the fishing fleet.
He said there was a shortage of fishing crews in Hong Kong and
the younger generation was becoming less willing to pursue that "adventurous
life of the sea" to which the Hon. K.S. Lo referred.
Mr. Haddon-Cave said the general economic development of Hong
Kong had made life ashore more attractive. Many young sons of fishermen
had gone overseas and whole fishing communities in the New Territories
had ceased fishing completely or reduced their fishing activities because
of the inflow of money from abroad.
The much higher standard of education now available for fishermen's
children had also led to a reduction in the numbers of potential fishermen,
he said.
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