WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1987
EAST KOWLOON GETTING NEW FISH MARKET
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A NEW WHOLESALE FISH MARKET BEING BUILT IN YAU TONG IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER AND WILL PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE TO EAST KOWLOON RESIDENTS.
THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE, SAID THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN OFFICIATING AT THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION (FMO)'S ANNUAL PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY HELD AT THE ABERDEEN WHOLESALE FISH MARKET.
DR LEE SAID THE NEW MARKET WOULD PROVIDE BETTER FACILITIES FOR FISHERMEN AND FISH BUYERS, AND THE HANDLING OF CATCHES WOULD BE FURTHER IMPROVED.
HE EXPRESSED CONCERN, HOWEVER, OVER THE PROBLEM OF ILLEGAL FISH MARKETING ACTIVITIES.
+THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND THE FMO ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SUCH ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND WILL CONTINUE ENFORCEMENT ACTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE POLICE, HE SAID.
HE URGED FISHERMEN TO ABIDE BY THE MARINE FISH (MARKETING) ORDINANCE AND SELL THEIR CATCHES THROUGH THE FMO FISH MARKETS.
REVIEWING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE INDUSTRY IN THE PAST YEAR, DR LEE SAID: THERE HAS BEEN FAVOURABLE DEMAND IN FISH FOR CONSUMPTION WITH STEADILY IMPROVED FISH PRICES. THE SUPPLY OF FUEL OIL HAS BEEN ADEQUATE AND THE PRICES ARE STEADY.
+THESE FACTORS HAVE HELPED TO SUSTAIN FISHERMEN'S CONFIDENCE IN THE INDUSTRY, RESULTING IN THEIR CONTINUAL INVESTMENT IN BUILDING NEW FISHING VESSELS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE OFFSHORE FISHERIES INDUSTRY.+
THE AMOUNT OF LANDINGS OF FISHERMEN LAST YEAR IN FMO MARKETS HAD INCREASED BY 3.7 PER CENT TO 68 800 TONNES WORTH $493 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF SEVEN PER CENT OVER THE 1985 FIGURE, HE SAID.
AT THE CEREMONY, DR LEE PRESENTED PRIZES TO 26 FISHERMEN WHO LANDED TOP CATCHES IN FMO MARKETS LAST YEAR.
AMONG THEM, SIX WERE ALSO AWARDED THE TITLE OF CHAMPION FISHERMEN OF THE YEAR. THEY ARE MR TAO KAM-TAO, MR CHAN CHO-DOR, MR WONG FUK, MR LAU KAM-FAI, MR CHEUNG NG, AND MR NG CHUEN-HEE.
DR LEE ALSO PRESENTED CERTIFICATES TO SEVEN OTHER FISHERMEN FOR SAVING 29 PEOPLE AT SEA AND LONG SERVICE MEDALS TO SIX FMO STAFF MEMBERS.
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