F
2.
CNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1974.
DAMAGE. TO CROPS
MEANWHILE, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAS SET UP 16 REGISTRATION CENTRES IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES TO REGISTER THE LOSSES OF FARMERS CAUSED BY TYPHOON CARMEN.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID REGISTRATION WILL GO ON UNTIL FRIDAY (OCTOBER 25) EXCEPT DURING THE CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS ON WEDNESDAY.
APPLICATIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL REHABILITATION GRANTS FROM THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND WILL BE ACCEPTED DURING THIS WEEK.
COMMENTING ON DAMAGES TO CROPS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE WORST HIT AREA WAS SHEUNG SHUI, WHERE FLOODING, WHICH LASTED TWO DAYS, AFFECTED SOME 800 DAUCHUNG OF VEGETABLE LAND. (NOTE: 6 DAUCHUNG EQUALS ONE ACRE).
THE TOTAL AREA AFFECTED BY FLOODING THROUGHOUT TE VVHE NEW TERRITORIES WAS 2.755 DAUCHUNG. FOR THE MAIN PART, FLOODING IN THE NT'S LASTED MAINLY BETWEEN THREE TO FIVE HOURS.
ABOUT 7.370 DUACHUNG OF VEGETABLES WERE DAMAGED DURING THE TYPHOON. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 80 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL SEEDLINGS AND 40 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL LEAFY VEGETABLES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE AFFECTED BY THE STORM.
IN ADDITION, ABOUT 540 DAUCHUNG OF FLOWER BEDS WERE DAMAGED BY FLOODING AND GALES.
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS SHOW THAT SOME 1.950 DAUCHUNG OF RICE PADDIES WERE AFFECTED. HOWEVER, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE EXACT DAMAGE TO CROPS COULD NOT BE KNOWN UNTIL THE FLOOD WATERS HAVE COMPLETELY RECEDED FROM THE PADDY FIELDS.
LOSSES AND DAMAGE TO POULTRY WERE COMPARATIVELY LESS. AS FAR AS IS KNOWN ABOUT 3,200 CHICKENS WERE DROWNED 200 IN KAM TIN AND 3,000 IN FANLING.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT APART FROM THE DAMAGE CAUSED TO CROPS, TYPHOON CARMEN COULD BE SAID TO HAVE BEEN BENEFICIAL TO FARMERS IN THAT SHE BROUGHT MUCH-NEEDED WATER TO THE ALMOST DR JED-UP WELLS FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES DURING THE DRY WINTER MONTHS AHEAD.
REGARDING FISHERIES, THE LOSS OF POND FISH WAS NOT GREAT ACCORDING TO REPORTS RECEIVED SO FAR. HOWEVER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE EXTENT OF LOSSES COULD ONLY BE KNOWN UNTIL MORE DETAILED REPORTS HAD BEEN RECEIVED FROM TEAMS NOW VISITING VARIOUS FISHING CENTRES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
ONLY ONE 37-FOOT SHRIMP TRAWLER WAS REPORTED SUNK
IN TAI PO, AND THERE WERE NO CASUALTIES.
IN THE