FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1985
+THIS ACCOUNTS FOR A HIGH RATE OF 85 PER CENT WHICH SPEAKS FOR ITSELF WHAT IMPORTANT ROLE THE AREA COMMITTEES ARE PLAYING ON THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD.
+WITH THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE AND DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION BEING FURTHER DEVELOPED, I TRUST THE AREA COMMITTEES WILL FACE A MUCH BUSIER AND MORE DEMANDING TASK IN THE DAYS TO COME, + MR LAM SAID.
ALSO ADDRESSING THE GATHERING THE DISTRICT OFFICER,
MR SYLVESTER TSE SAID THIS YEAR THE AREA COMMITTEES WOULD AIM AT STRENGTHENING TIES WITH THE DISTRICT'S 220 MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND 180 OWNERS' INCORPORATIONS.
THIS YEAR THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 199 REPRESENTATIVES FROM A SPECTRUM OF THE COMMUNITY APPOINTED IN TEN AREA COMMITTEES IN SHAM SHUI PO.
VEGETABLE PRODUCTION ON THE RISE
****
LOCAL FARMERS PRODUCED 159 000 TONNES OF VEGETABLES LAST YEAR, UP BY ABOUT FOUR PER CENT COMPARED WITH 1983, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN, SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE 33RD TERM COMMITTEE OF THE FEDERATION OF VEGETABLE MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES, HE SAID, HOWEVER, THAT PRICES OF VEGETABLE REMAINED LOW, PARTICULARLY IN THE LATER HALF OF 1984, AND THE AVERAGE PRICE WAS 23 PER CENT DOWN COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
+ THE FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PRICES OF VEGETABLES ARE NUMEROUS, MANY OF WHICH ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL, HE SAID. DR RIDDELL-SWAN ADDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT WOULD DO ITS BEST TO HELP LOCAL FARMERS TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE.
IN FACT, MORE THAN 10 000 ENQUIRIES FROM FARMERS SEEKING HELP ON ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH SATISFACTORILY.
+ IN ADDITION, 1 369 LOANS AMOUNTING TO $18.1 MILLION HAVE BEEN MADE TO FARMERS FOR PRODUCTION PURPOSES FROM VARIOUS LOCAL FUNDS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.
/DR RIDDELL- SWAN