FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1980
MR JORDAN SAID ON THE GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION, HER MAJESTY HAS SEEN FIT TO COMMEND YOUR BRAVERY IN DEALING WITH A VIOLENT FELONY WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE INVOLVED INNOCENT PEOPLE IN INJURY OR WORSE.
+YOUR RAPID REACTION TO WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE AND YOUR DETERMINED ACTION DEFEATED THE CRIMINALS CONCERNED. YOUR CONDUCT EXEMPLIFIED ALL THE FINEST TRADITIONS OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE TO WHICH YOU BELONG, HE SAID.
AGRICULTURE LAND DOWN
FOOD PRODUCTION UP
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ALTHOUGH THERE HAS BEEN A ONE THIRD REDUCTION IN CULTIVATED LAND DURING THE PAST 25 YEARS, FOOD PRODUCTION HAS INCREASED CONSIDERABLY, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN SAID THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING,
BUT HE WARNED FARMERS THAT THE MAIN CHALLENGE IN THE FUTURE WOULD BE THE INEVITABLE INCREASING LOSS OF GOOD QUALITY AGRICULTURAL LAND THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF URBANISATION.
MR RIDDELL-SWAN MADE THE COMMENTS TO MORE THAN 500 PRIMARY PRODUCERS AND NON-STABLE FOOD TRADERS AT A DINNER THEY HOSTED IN HIS HONOUR AS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.
IN PAYING TRIBUTE TO MR RIDDELL-SWAN, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR KO HOK, SAID MR RIDDELL-SWAN JOINED THE DEPARTMENT IN 1956 AS A VETERINARY OFFICER, DEVOTING FULL ATTENTION TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF ANIMAL HEALTH.
+GIVING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO DISEASE PREVENTION AND STOCK IMPROVEMENT OF PIGS AND CHICKENS, HE LAID FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR MODERN POULTRY HUSBANDRY,+ SAID MR KO.
MR RIDDELL-SWAN WAS APPOINTED ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (AGRICULTURE) IN 1964 AND WAS PROMOTED TO DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT IN 1971. HE WAS APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES LAST MONTH.
IN REPLY TO THE WELCOME ADDRESS, MR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID THAT IN 1956 HONG KONG HAD ABOUT 13 355 HECTARES OF LAND BEING FARMED AND PRODUCING 96 000 TONNES OF VEGETABLES- 227 000 PIGS- 1 100 000 POULTRY 500 TONNES OF POND FISH AND 26 000 TONNES OF RICE.
+TODAY, IN 1980, WE HAVE ONLY SOME 8 094 HECTARES UNDER PRODUCTION BUT NOW PRODUCING 191 000 TONNES OF VEGETABLES- 528 000 PIGS- 29 051 000 POULTRY- 6 540 TONNES OF POND FISH AND SOMEWHAT SIGNIFICANTLY ONLY 103 TONNES OF RICE, + HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN PRODUCTION, DESPITE A DECREASE IN LAND UNDER CULTIVATION OF ABOUT ONE THIRD, COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE ABILITY OF FARMERS TO ADOPT THE LATEST FARMING TECHNIQUES TO MAXIMISE PRODUCTIVITY.
/HE ALSO