3.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1983
FISHING INDUSTRY PLAYING IMPORTANT ROLE
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THE FISHING INDUSTRY WOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG'S ECONOMY BECAUSE OF THE TERRITORY'S GEOGRAPHICAL AND OTHER FACTORS, AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ANDREW SO KWOK-WING, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
NOTING THAT FISHERMEN HAD MADE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS. MR SO SAID HONG KONG HAD THE OBLIGATION TO LOOK AFTER THEM, HELP THEM INCREASE THEIR OPERATIONS, IMPROVE THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS AND PROVIDE FORMAL EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING TO THEIR CHILDREN.
MR SO WAS SPEAKING AT THE JOINT GRADUATION CEREMONY OF THE 13 PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND ONE SECONDARY TECHNICAL SCHOOL PROVIDED BY THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION (FMO), WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
THE FMO STARTED TO PROVIDE SCHOOLS SPECIALLY FOR FISHERMEN'S CHILDREN IN THE LATE 1940'S, AND GREAT DEVELOPMENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE THEN.
AT PRESENT, THERE ARE SOME 3 800 STUDENTS STUDYING AT THE 13 FMO PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND ONE FIVE-YEAR SECONDARY TECHNICAL SCHOOL.
*THE FIRST BATCH OF OVER 50 FORM FIVE STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE HONG KONG SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION IN 1983. ONE STUDENT OBTAINED FIVE DISTINCTIONS AND THREE CREDITS WHILE SIX OTHERS OBTAINED AT LEAST ONE CREDIT, MR SO POINTED OUT.
HE FELT THAT AS MANY FISHERMEN'S CHILDREN WERE REQUIRED TO ACCOMPANY VESSELS ON FISHING OPERATIONS, THERE WAS A NEED FOR FMO SCHOOLS TO OPERATE MORE SPECIAL CLASSES TO ASSIST THESE CHILDREN.
HE ADDED THAT MORE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES COULD BE BROADCAST ON TELEVISION OR RADIO SO THAT FISHERMEN'S CHILDREN COULD LEARN FROM THEM.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF OVER 20 CHAPTERS OF THE LAWS OF HONG KONG AND ITS DUTIES BEAR SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE PUBLIC.
+HOWEVER, ITS WORK IS OFTEN GONE UNNOTICED EXCEPT DURING TYPHOONS WHEN NEWSPAPERS, TELEVISION AND RADIO BROADCAST REPORT ON THE EFFORTS OF AFD STAFF IN TAKING PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AND GRANTING EMERGENCY RELIEF TO THOSE AFFECTED.
+THIS SHOWS THAT AFD OFFICERS ONLY AIM TO SERVE THE PUBLIC AND DISREGARD REWARDS. THEY REALLY DESERVE OUR APPRECIATION AND SUPPORT, MR SO SAID.
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